Synonyms for

Octopus

Verb / ˈɑ:ktʌˌpʊs / Another word for octopus — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a sea animal with a soft, oval body and eight long arms with suckers, used for gripping things and catching prey

Synonyms & similar words

devilfish cephalopod squid cuttlefish nautilus kraken mollusk shellfish clam oyster lobster crab shrimp prawn crustacean eel whale dolphin

Synonyms by register

Formal

cephalopod

Informal

eight-armed creature

Literary

kraken sea devil

Common collocations

  • common octopus
  • giant octopus
  • blue-ringed octopus
  • octopus tentacles
  • octopus ink
  • octopus garden
  • octopus suckers

Word family

noun octopus

Usage note

The plural of octopus is octopuses or octopi. Octopuses is generally preferred in modern usage.

Example sentences

  1. I saw an octopus at the aquarium today.
  2. The octopus has eight arms.
  3. The octopus can change its color to blend in with its surroundings.
  4. The octopus uses its suckers to grip onto things.
  5. The octopus is a type of mollusk.

Quotes

  • 'I'm a fast learner, and I like to learn. I'm like an octopus, I grab onto things and learn.' - Bethany Hamilton
  • 'The octopus is a soft-bodied animal, but it has a beak, and it has venomous saliva, and it has the ability to change color and shape.' - Sy Montgomery
  • 'I do feel like an octopus. I feel like I'm juggling a lot of things.' - Reese Witherspoon

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