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
My 2025 included everything from hiking to see a glacier in Alaska to snorkeling with penguins and manta rays in the Galapagos.
—
Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 21 Dec. 2025
The world’s oceans are home to an exquisite variety of sharks and rays, from the largest fishes in the sea – the majestic whale shark and manta rays – to the luminescent but rarely seen deep-water lantern shark and guitarfishes.
—Gareth J. Fraser, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
Other iconic marine animals, including whale sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks and manta rays, were also added to a list that bans all the commercial trade of their species or by-products.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2025
The outlet noted that they have been known to catch a ride on other sea life, such as manta rays and dolphins.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
In the absence of whales, sucker fish avoid predators by seeking other large creatures to latch onto, including manta rays, dolphins and unlucky scuba divers.
—CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
The aquarium includes over 11 million gallons of water throughout its aquariums, some of which house larger marine life like whale sharks and manta rays.
—Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Research has documented plastics in a variety of sharks (such as whale sharks, basking sharks, manta rays, Atlantic sharpnose sharks, and a few demersal sharks to name a few) across different habitats.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
So, no one, including Harry can ride manta rays?
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 15 Sep. 2025
Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 21 Dec. 2025
The world’s oceans are home to an exquisite variety of sharks and rays, from the largest fishes in the sea – the majestic whale shark and manta rays – to the luminescent but rarely seen deep-water lantern shark and guitarfishes.
—Gareth J. Fraser, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
Other iconic marine animals, including whale sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks and manta rays, were also added to a list that bans all the commercial trade of their species or by-products.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2025
The outlet noted that they have been known to catch a ride on other sea life, such as manta rays and dolphins.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
In the absence of whales, sucker fish avoid predators by seeking other large creatures to latch onto, including manta rays, dolphins and unlucky scuba divers.
—CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
The aquarium includes over 11 million gallons of water throughout its aquariums, some of which house larger marine life like whale sharks and manta rays.
—Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Research has documented plastics in a variety of sharks (such as whale sharks, basking sharks, manta rays, Atlantic sharpnose sharks, and a few demersal sharks to name a few) across different habitats.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
So, no one, including Harry can ride manta rays?
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manta rays
rays
Noun
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Her body, in a sense, the crime scene and her brain scans, blood work and X-rays are discussed in open court.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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In the wild, turtles spend a great deal of time basking in direct sunlight and absorbing its UVB rays.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manta rays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manta%20rays. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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