as in rays
any of several extremely large rays
the manta ray blended in beautifully with the sandy ocean floor
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Recent Examples of manta rays
From July to October, spot whale sharks and manta rays flocking by the hundreds, or save your trip for November through April to enjoy its dry season, with minimal rainfall, abundant sunshine (eight hours of sun per days’ worth), and high visibility for divers.
—
Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 May 2026
Night Snorkeling With Manta Rays Kona is one of the few places in the world where manta rays can be viewed year-round in their natural habitat.
—Kait Hanson, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
In a new study, researchers documented seven cases of remoras, a fish known for suctioning itself onto rays—as well as sharks, dolphins, boats and even divers—plunging into manta rays' cloacal orifice, an opening used for pooping, peeing and mating.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
SeaWorld’s sister park in Orlando, Florida, already hosts a nighttime drone show that features undulating manta rays, paddling sea turtles and hovering octopuses.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
The affected zone also sits along a critical migration corridor for reef manta rays, one of the archipelago’s biggest tourism draws.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Attracted by artificial light, dozens of gentle manta rays playfully brushed against us.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Upon entering the Visitor's Center, guests are greeted by life-size models of North Atlantic right whales, dolphins, and manta rays, along with dioramas depicting marshes, sand dunes, and coastal habitats.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
More folk are looking for escapes that take them to the most remote corners of earth—many of which these larger animals like humpback whales, sperm whales, and giant manta rays call home.
—Luke Abrahams, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 May 2026
Night Snorkeling With Manta Rays Kona is one of the few places in the world where manta rays can be viewed year-round in their natural habitat.
—Kait Hanson, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
In a new study, researchers documented seven cases of remoras, a fish known for suctioning itself onto rays—as well as sharks, dolphins, boats and even divers—plunging into manta rays' cloacal orifice, an opening used for pooping, peeing and mating.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
SeaWorld’s sister park in Orlando, Florida, already hosts a nighttime drone show that features undulating manta rays, paddling sea turtles and hovering octopuses.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
The affected zone also sits along a critical migration corridor for reef manta rays, one of the archipelago’s biggest tourism draws.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Attracted by artificial light, dozens of gentle manta rays playfully brushed against us.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Upon entering the Visitor's Center, guests are greeted by life-size models of North Atlantic right whales, dolphins, and manta rays, along with dioramas depicting marshes, sand dunes, and coastal habitats.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
More folk are looking for escapes that take them to the most remote corners of earth—many of which these larger animals like humpback whales, sperm whales, and giant manta rays call home.
—Luke Abrahams, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manta rays
rays
Noun
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That matters because the gas inside galaxy clusters constantly radiates energy away in X-rays and should gradually cool over time, and scientists suspect energy released by supermassive black holes, known as AGN feedback, helps reheat that gas and prevent runaway cooling.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
20 May 2026
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Each of the 22 rays is represented in the primary somatosensory cortex by a distinct morphological module — a stripe of tissue identifiable under cytochrome oxidase staining, arranged in a pattern that mirrors the star’s geometry.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manta rays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manta%20rays. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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