sea serpent

noun

Synonyms of sea serpentnext
: a large marine animal resembling a serpent often reported to have been seen but never proved to exist

Examples of sea serpent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And what’s the deal with that sea serpent? — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025 It’s presumed to be the real animal behind some sea serpent sightings. — David Bressan, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 There's also an Orkney origin story involving a giant sea serpent. — Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024 Researchers will undoubtedly keep delving deep to investigate how so many real-life sea serpents thrived on our world. — Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sea serpent

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sea serpent was in 1774

Browse Nearby Words

sea sedge
sea serpent
sea service
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sea serpent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20serpent. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sea serpent

noun
: a large marine animal resembling a snake often reported to have been seen but never proved to be real

More from Merriam-Webster on sea serpent

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sea serpent

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sea serpent

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