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 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 places can clearly be essential marine habitats, especially for sharks, supporting different species and life stages in different ways.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Thanks to a 911 call from one of the bystanders watching from a nearby condominium balcony, members of a marine rescue crew eventually made their way to the two men.
    Michele Haddon, USA Today, 14 July 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
  • After a horrifying deep-sea virtual reality experience sent Whoopi Goldberg tumbling to the ground in recent years, the EGOT-winning actress has once again sounded the alarm over the technological apocalypse — particularly intrusive artificial intelligence.
    EW.com, EW.com, 9 July 2025
  • The bow wreckage now supports a biodiverse community of deep-sea corals, anemones, and basket stars, utilizing the hull as their habitat.
    Cara Tabachnick July 8, CBS News, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pelagic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelagic. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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