whaling

noun

whal·​ing ˈ(h)wā-liŋ How to pronounce whaling (audio)
Synonyms of whalingnext
: the occupation of catching and extracting commercial products from whales

Examples of whaling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The recording dates to a time when the North Atlantic Ocean’s humpback whales were struggling because of decades of commercial whaling. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2026 However, whaling, a devastating fire, and relentless human exploitation eventually led to their complete extinction on the island. ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026 Greenland and America have been through a lot together, and the bonds forged from the commercial whaling and polar exploration days of the 19th century through World War II and the Cold War run deep. Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026 In the 1700s, Dutch settlers arrived at Kalk Bay, and it was later occupied by British colonists who turned it into a major whaling center. Kate Bartlett, NPR, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whaling

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of whaling was in 1688

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Cite this Entry

“Whaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whaling. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.

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