as in rays
any of several extremely large rays
the manta ray blended in beautifully with the sandy ocean floor
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Recent Examples of manta rays
After dark, visitors may even spot manta rays gliding through the water.
—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
From a biodiversity standpoint, due to the warm waters, Kenya has everything from beautiful nudibranchs (colorful small creatures) to enormous whale sharks and manta rays, with everything in-between.
—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
The Butcher’s Feast is more than enough for a full meal, but there are other treasures, too, like a beef-noodle soup built on a spectacularly rich, slightly offal-ish broth made with marrow bones, with paper-thin slices of A5-Wagyu rib eye swimming in it like manta rays.
—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
24 May 2026
Travelers also visit the nearby Nusa islands for quieter beaches, snorkeling and swimming with manta rays.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
21 May 2026
From July to October, spot whale sharks and manta rays flocking by the hundreds, or save your trip for November through April to enjoy its dry season, with minimal rainfall, abundant sunshine (eight hours of sun per days’ worth), and high visibility for divers.
—
Skyli Alvarez,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 May 2026
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
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
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
From a biodiversity standpoint, due to the warm waters, Kenya has everything from beautiful nudibranchs (colorful small creatures) to enormous whale sharks and manta rays, with everything in-between.
—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
The Butcher’s Feast is more than enough for a full meal, but there are other treasures, too, like a beef-noodle soup built on a spectacularly rich, slightly offal-ish broth made with marrow bones, with paper-thin slices of A5-Wagyu rib eye swimming in it like manta rays.
—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
24 May 2026
Travelers also visit the nearby Nusa islands for quieter beaches, snorkeling and swimming with manta rays.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
21 May 2026
From July to October, spot whale sharks and manta rays flocking by the hundreds, or save your trip for November through April to enjoy its dry season, with minimal rainfall, abundant sunshine (eight hours of sun per days’ worth), and high visibility for divers.
—
Skyli Alvarez,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manta rays
rays
Noun
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The chairs are crafted from weather-resistant PE rattan and powder-coated steel that stand up to harsh UV rays, rain, and other outdoor elements.
-
The fee for copies of X-rays will increase from $55 to $60.
Cite this Entry
“Manta rays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manta%20rays. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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