as in rays
any of several extremely large rays
the manta ray blended in beautifully with the sandy ocean floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of manta rays
In a new study, researchers documented seven cases of remoras, a fish known for suctioning itself onto rays—as well as sharks, dolphins, boats and even divers—plunging into manta rays' cloacal orifice, an opening used for pooping, peeing and mating.
—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
SeaWorld’s sister park in Orlando, Florida, already hosts a nighttime drone show that features undulating manta rays, paddling sea turtles and hovering octopuses.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
Expect to see surgeonfish, blue tang, moorish idols, plus whale shark and manta rays in the May-September rainy season.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Activities like big-game fishing, snorkeling with manta rays in nearby Hanifaru Bay, cooking classes, sunrise yoga, and afternoon massages are just some of the options available to guests in between dips in the ocean and laps in the pool.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
The affected zone also sits along a critical migration corridor for reef manta rays, one of the archipelago’s biggest tourism draws.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Attracted by artificial light, dozens of gentle manta rays playfully brushed against us.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Upon entering the Visitor's Center, guests are greeted by life-size models of North Atlantic right whales, dolphins, and manta rays, along with dioramas depicting marshes, sand dunes, and coastal habitats.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
More folk are looking for escapes that take them to the most remote corners of earth—many of which these larger animals like humpback whales, sperm whales, and giant manta rays call home.
—Luke Abrahams, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
SeaWorld’s sister park in Orlando, Florida, already hosts a nighttime drone show that features undulating manta rays, paddling sea turtles and hovering octopuses.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
Expect to see surgeonfish, blue tang, moorish idols, plus whale shark and manta rays in the May-September rainy season.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Activities like big-game fishing, snorkeling with manta rays in nearby Hanifaru Bay, cooking classes, sunrise yoga, and afternoon massages are just some of the options available to guests in between dips in the ocean and laps in the pool.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
The affected zone also sits along a critical migration corridor for reef manta rays, one of the archipelago’s biggest tourism draws.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Attracted by artificial light, dozens of gentle manta rays playfully brushed against us.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Upon entering the Visitor's Center, guests are greeted by life-size models of North Atlantic right whales, dolphins, and manta rays, along with dioramas depicting marshes, sand dunes, and coastal habitats.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
More folk are looking for escapes that take them to the most remote corners of earth—many of which these larger animals like humpback whales, sperm whales, and giant manta rays call home.
—Luke Abrahams, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manta rays
rays
Noun
-
Gamma rays are the most energetic type of light rays, typically marking the last gasp of a dying star or the cataclysmic clap of two neutron stars.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 May 2026
-
Gamma rays are produced only when particles from these two states collide and annihilate—which means some of the dark matter must be in the excited state in the first place.—
Paul M. Sutter,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manta rays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manta%20rays. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
