as in sailor
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel
the tale of a grizzled old sea dog who sets out for one last voyage
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Recent Examples of sea dog
The Collegeville outfit came with the mask of a scowling pirate with an open eye-patch that looked more like a black eye and a sickly green pallor that would shiver the timbers of the saltiest sea dog.
—
René Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Oct. 2024
Under the black flag Overall, around 4,000 sea dogs plagued the world’s sea lanes during the golden age of piracy.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2024
So often pirate narratives focus on the adventure, the treasure, or the sea dog himself.
—Hannah Fish, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2023
Try the East Lothian seafood chowder and NB sea dog cocktail, made with gin.
—Karen Gardiner, Washington Post, 27 May 2022
Its rocky coves, secret anchorages and long winding creeks have historically been a haunting ground for seafaring scoundrels and salty sea dogs.
—Alexander Turner, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2020
René Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Oct. 2024
Under the black flag Overall, around 4,000 sea dogs plagued the world’s sea lanes during the golden age of piracy.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2024
So often pirate narratives focus on the adventure, the treasure, or the sea dog himself.
—Hannah Fish, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2023
Try the East Lothian seafood chowder and NB sea dog cocktail, made with gin.
—Karen Gardiner, Washington Post, 27 May 2022
Its rocky coves, secret anchorages and long winding creeks have historically been a haunting ground for seafaring scoundrels and salty sea dogs.
—Alexander Turner, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sea dog
Noun
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Cold winter conditions can complicate operations even for experienced sailors, Sawyer said.—
Michael Casey,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Now as sailors stepped out into the surf, a great crowd tried to take oars off the first sloop.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Last week’s whale sightings by the Aquarium led the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to implement a voluntary slow speed zone called a Dynamic Management Area (DMA) for mariners to reduce their speed to 10 knots to protect the whales.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Wander the gear aisles where gadgets promise to turn anyone into a better mariner, chef, parent and human being.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In some districts, navigators focus on violence prevention or absenteeism.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
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Sinclair is probably the most adept living navigator of London’s subterranean currents.—
Hari Kunzru,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sea dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sea%20dog. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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