PELAGIC Synonyms: 18 Similar and Opposite Words

pelagic

adjective

pə-ˈla-jik

Definition of pelagic

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

littoral

Example Sentences

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 same goes for the San Diego-Scripps conservation area, except for the recreational taking of coastal pelagic species (northern anchovy, Pacific sardine, Pacific mackerel and jack mackerel) by hook and line only. — Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 Kona Blackwater Dive is an advanced, thrilling dive over deep water (thousands of feet) to witness the nightly migration of pelagic, alien-like and larval creatures. — Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026 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 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 See All Example Sentences for pelagic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pelagic

Adjective

From the cabin, your 360-degree views of exotic marine species and coral reefs will be enriched by the insights of an expert pilot.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
Plastic and other marine debris reach Arctic beaches on ocean currents and through shipping and fishing activity.

— Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of marine

Adjective

The best accessories to oyster eating are those that amplify the bivalve’s puckery, oceanic qualities rather than counterbalancing them.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026
Highlights include astonishing wildlife moments like orcas carrying a humpback whale calf together after separating it from its mother and the unexpected encounter between a freediver and a giant oceanic sunfish.

— Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of oceanic

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pelages

pelagic

pelerine

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“Pelagic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelagic. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of pelagic

adjective

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