manta rays

plural of manta ray
as in rays
any of several extremely large rays the manta ray blended in beautifully with the sandy ocean floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 manta rays Real manta rays propel themselves by rhythmically flapping and undulating their enormous pectoral fins. — New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2026 Nusa Lembongan, the neighboring island connected by the landmark 450-foot-long Yellow Bridge, is where scuba divers seek encounters with manta rays and whales, and snorkeling enthusiasts can spend hours floating above vibrant coral reefs. — Norm Bour, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2026 Stretching across more than 139,000 hectares, Hanifaru Bay is home to coral reefs with colorful shoals of fish, turtles, manta rays, and whale sharks. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 The film also traces Kennedy’s redemption from a troubled past that included the Hells Angels and time in prison, while highlighting the growing threats facing manta rays and the urgency of protecting them. — Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 While beneficial for the sharks, the impact on manta rays is unclear, potentially causing stress or disrupting their natural cleaning. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 The island nation has the gorgeous beaches travelers are looking for, but also a warm culture, vibrant marine world and aquatic adventures such as surfing and scuba diving with manta rays. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 24 July 2026 Its 33 beach villas are designed to look like traditional Maldivian fishing huts, and its 44 overwater villas like manta rays. — Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 16 July 2026 Dolphins, manta rays, sea turtles and massive schools of fish all make appearances. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manta rays
rays
Noun
  • Persistently bleak under the rays of the California sun, Artificial (now under the aegis of Anora studio Neon) is the movie of the moment — the origin story of our current AI quagmire at the literal, psychological and pretty much every other level.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • With methane—a potent greenhouse gas—ousted from the atmosphere, and the creation of the UV-protective ozone layer (which still shields us from the sun’s rays today), the Earth began to cool and experienced one of its earliest ice ages.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Manta rays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manta%20rays. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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