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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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

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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 large fish, which can grow to seven feet long, eat a variety of species, including small pelagic fish, juvenile tuna and invertebrates. Samuel Sanders, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024 His trips included 16 pelagic trips aboard various commercial and private boats. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024 For years, scientists have observed stomach eversion in elasmobranchs and pelagic fishes, especially when they are captured in hook and line fisheries. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Each day, there will be opportunities to attend talks on a wide range of topics, including shorebirds, common pelagic birds and birding, bird migration, beginning birding, bird art basics, backyard bird feeding and virtual tours of Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands and Panama. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pelagic 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pelagic
Adjective
  • Australia’s Ningaloo Reef is known for its breathtaking turquoise waters and diverse array of marine life.
    Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Spend the afternoon snorkeling among an abundance of marine life, and then anchor for sunset at North Long Coco Caye, an island that's less than 40 acres.
    Patricia Johnson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • But that comeback is happening amid other oceanic changes, Mr. Cheeseman added.
    Alexandra E. Petri, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The museum is in the final stages of a $70-million upgrade of its Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, which houses African, ancient American and Oceanic art galleries.
    Benjamin Sutton, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Researchers behind the machine, who published their findings today in Science Advances, told Popular Science the new design could be useful for future deep-sea exploration efforts.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2024
  • Scientists have warned that the full environmental impacts of deep-sea mining are hard to predict.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 2 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Pelagic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelagic. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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