Recent Examples on the Web

On the show The Boys, a speedboat smashes into a cetacean and the humans emerge unscathed. Rhett Allain, Wired, "What Happens If You Smash a Boat Into a Whale?," 14 Sep. 2020

As for the whale itself, experts are still unable to determine why the cetacean and its travel companions swam upriver in the first place. Gabrielle Chung, PEOPLE.com, "Humpback Whale Heading to Antarctica Gets Stranded in Crocodile-Infested River After Taking 'Wrong Turn'," 14 Sep. 2020

In some places, official guardians watch over a resident cetacean. Cathleen O'grady, Smithsonian Magazine, "A Dolphin Has Been Living Solo in This Irish Harbor for Decades," 22 July 2020

Initially, the cetacean will observe people from a distance, but if those people repeatedly try to make friends, the wild animal’s caution may fall away. Cathleen O'grady, Smithsonian Magazine, "A Dolphin Has Been Living Solo in This Irish Harbor for Decades," 22 July 2020

That could be because commercial whaling bans have boosted the number of cetaceans in the sea, allowing whales to find mates without having to shout. Emily Anthes, New York Times, "The Sound of One Shrimp Snapping," 21 Apr. 2020

This differs from cetaceans, which miniaturized their bony labyrinths soon after entering the water. Fox News, "Prehistoric crocodiles were more like whales and dolphins, shocking study finds," 21 Apr. 2020

Now, 13 small cetacean species are nearing extinction primarily because of these nets, marine biologists report this month in Endangered Species Research. Virginia Morell, Science | AAAS, "Modern fishing methods are driving small whales and dolphins to extinction," 11 Dec. 2019

While most cetaceans' pectoral fins are only one-seventh of their body length, a humpback's flippers can reach up to one-third of its body length. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Watch Humpback Whales Scoop Fish Into Their Mouths Using Their Fins," 17 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cetacean.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.