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 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 However, while pelagic sharks thrived, some species faced physiological limits in extremely warm waters. Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for pelagic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pelagic
Adjective
  • Information on how red tide affects sawfish and other marine life will be shared, along with details on the MISS organization (Minorities in Shark Sciences) which is helping further shark research.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2025
  • Not only that but the IUCN estimates that 33% of sharks, rays, and marine mammals are now threatened with extinction, largely due to bycatch and overfishing.
    Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Spurred on by the energy of Chuck Berry, the harmonies of the Four Freshmen, and the ecstatic production of Phil Spector, Wilson chased these highs through his vast, oceanic career.
    Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • The hope is that after five days of talks and speeches, nations will agree to international controls on fishing, deep-sea mining, wildlife conservation, and other issues, in order to stanch the rapid degradation of oceans, crucial to reining in global warming.
    Vivienne Walt, Time, 10 June 2025
  • Even more astonishing, the largest migration on Earth occurs daily as deep-sea creatures rise to the surface under cover of night to make their way to other areas.
    Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025

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“Pelagic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelagic. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

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