Synonyms of pelagic

pelagic

adjective

pə-ˈla-jik 

1

as in marine

of or relating to the sea

among pelagic animals the undisputed king is the blue whale, the largest creature currently roaming the face of the earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• marine
• oceanic
• maritime
• underwater
• benthic
• deep-sea
• deepwater
• naval
• nautical
• abyssal
• oceanographic
• undersea
• hydrographic
• saltwater
• admiralty

2

as in oceanic

of, relating to, or occurring in the open sea

at one time pelagic whaling was the cornerstone of the island's economy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• oceanic
• deep-sea
• marine
• blue-water
• deepwater
• maritime
• nautical

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• littoral

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pelagic

The same goes for the San Diego-Scripps conservation area, except for the recreational taking of coastal pelagic species (northern anchovy, Pacific sardine, Pacific mackerel and jack mackerel) by hook and line only. — Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026

Kona Blackwater Dive is an advanced, thrilling dive over deep water (thousands of feet) to witness the nightly migration of pelagic, alien-like and larval creatures. — Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026

Mark Fitchett, a pelagic fisheries scientist, said local small-boat fishers hold a range of views on the sharks and their growing depredation. — CBS News, 11 Mar. 2026

For the advanced, channels around the islands work like pelagic highways, attracting more than 3,000 different marine species. — Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025

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