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

Relevance
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pelagic The state’s shores offer temperate-weather hiking with views of dramatic cliffs, crashing waves, pelagic birds such as the blue-footed booby and several species of sandpiper, and native wildflowers. Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024 Some 134,000 tons of frozen pelagic fish — such as sardines, anchovies, mackerel, sprats and herring — are thawed and tossed into European tuna cages every year. Julia Amberger, Nanni Fontana, Marzio Mian, & Nicola Scevola (tr. Elettra Pauletto), The Dial, 3 Apr. 2025 Tropic Fish is known for being a pelagic fishery with a remarkably sustainable footprint. Alissa Fitzgerald, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 Ongoing projects involve monitoring migrating humpback whales, testing water acidification levels, and tagging pelagic fish. Kathryn Romeyn, AFAR Media, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pelagic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pelagic
Adjective
  • These same principles apply across the broader marine agenda.
    Marc Benioff, Time, 24 June 2025
  • Shapiro plans to major in marine biology at the University of California, San Diego.
    Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Cate Blanchett styled a sculptural, oceanic design courtesy of Dilara Fındıkoğlu for the 2025 Serpentine Gallery Summer Party on Tuesday in London.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 24 June 2025
  • National defense in McKinley’s day largely meant preventing invasions—an undemanding task, given the country’s peaceful neighbors and oceanic moats.
    Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • Smith’s witch eels are deep-sea dwellers, found at depths of about 850 to 1,500 feet, the study said.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
  • That first deep-sea mining project didn't quite go as planned.
    Daniel Ackerman, NPR, 30 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Pelagic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelagic. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!