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 Ongoing projects involve monitoring migrating humpback whales, testing water acidification levels, and tagging pelagic fish. Kathryn Romeyn, AFAR Media, 26 Feb. 2025 However, while pelagic sharks thrived, some species faced physiological limits in extremely warm waters. Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 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 The northern equatorial upwelling front, which brings cold-nutrient rich waters to the surface, combined with the tropical sun is the perfect recipe for ocean productivity that sustains ocean pelagic food webs. Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for pelagic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pelagic
Adjective
  • Toxic algae bloom possibly related to Palisades Fire sickens marine life 02:54 Stephanie Wilcox said her toddler's pediatrician recommended testing their home.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • That adjustable strap, how flat and sans-bulk the crossbody’s shape is, and the fact that its threads are made from a combination of recycled bottles and marine plastics.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The cooling effect altered oceanic circulation patterns, leading to stronger thermohaline currents that further distributed cold water across the globe.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The theme now lends to the intimate cantina vibe with the roots of an oceanic eatery, providing locals with the flavors and ambience of a beachside getaway.
    Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Magellan Ltd, a deep-sea mapping company, and Atlantic Productions conducted the scans over a six-week expedition.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025
  • It is built for conducting deep-sea exploration and is the mother ship of two types of submersibles.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025

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“Pelagic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelagic. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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