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
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Recent Examples of pelagic
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
One third of pelagic sharks and rays are now threatened with extinction.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 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
Beginners can explore shallow reefs with abundant marine life, while advanced divers can venture to deeper sites with strong currents and the chance to encounter pelagic species.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pelagic
CBS News, 11 Mar. 2026
One third of pelagic sharks and rays are now threatened with extinction.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 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
Beginners can explore shallow reefs with abundant marine life, while advanced divers can venture to deeper sites with strong currents and the chance to encounter pelagic species.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pelagic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pelagic
Adjective
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Much of Culebra is now protected under the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, which preserves mangroves, dry forest, and charming coastal habitats used by seabirds and marine life.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
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Consumers should also pay attention to inactive ingredients, since oils, fragrances and other additives can harm marine life.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This heat wave, which is the oceanic equivalent of a heat wave on land, could have broad ramifications for sea life, as warm water species like hammerhead sharks and bluefin tuna migrate into areas where they are normally not seen, and cold-water species move deeper and further north.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
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Her favorite blends include a viral favorite from British heritage fragrance house, Jo Malone, and an oceanic body spray from none other than Dior, both of which are still available to add to your rotation.—
Rebecca Norris,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Earlier this week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed that the deep-sea find belonged to a giant deep-sea anemone, Relicanthus daphneae, and was part of the base that helped the underwater creature attach to rocks.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
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Whole-genome sequencing revealed the orb shared lots of genetic material with deep-sea anemones.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pelagic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelagic. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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