giant squid

noun

: any of a genus (Architeuthis) of extremely large squids that may attain a length of 60 feet (18 meters) and include the largest mollusks known

Examples of giant squid in a Sentence

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When Jay encounters a giant squid being chased by a mammoth sperm whale, he’s unwittingly entangled in the former’s tentacles and swallowed up in one extended, terrifying sequence. — David MacK, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 After submerging himself, Jay gets entangled in the tentacles of a giant squid, and that’s when the whale, who feeds on squid, pulls both Jay and the squid into his oversize gaping mouth. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 The whales sometimes have circular marks on their skin, which are potentially sucker marks from fighting off giant squid. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2026 With its spectacular imagery of bioluminescent creatures, not to mention a giant squid measuring somewhere between 2-4 storeys tall, this is a film that demands to be seen on the big screen. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for giant squid

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of giant squid was in 1872

Rhymes for giant squid

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Browse Nearby Words

giant snail
giant squid
giant squirrel
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Cite this Entry

“Giant squid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/giant%20squid. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

giant squid

noun
: any of a group of very large squids up to 60 feet (18 meters) long including the long arms

More from Merriam-Webster on giant squid

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about giant squid

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