Parenting

60+ Words To Describe The Ocean When "Big" And "Blue" Just Won't Do

Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Family on beach — Words to describe the ocean.
Morsa Images/Getty Images

You ever stare out into the ocean and think, “God, you’re so beautiful.” Who hasn’t, right? Take, for instance, Billie Eilish. She definitely knows the power of the ocean. Do you really think her hit song “Ocean Eyes” would’ve been so haunting if she named it “Lake Eyes” or “River Eyes?” No. That’s because the ocean is one of the most magical wonders of the world. There’s something so soothing about staring into that blue abyss that brings such a compelling sense of peace and awe. Yep, make no waves about it; the sea’s majesty just can’t be beat, which explains why it can be so hard to find words to describe the ocean. Whether you’re trying to piece together a scene in your novel, put together a descriptive homeschool lesson, or compose the most intriguing Instagram caption for a trip to the beach with your babies, perfectly capturing the essence of the ocean can be tricky.

So, how do you encapsulate all its mysteries and beauty? Keep reading! The following words will help you, ahem, seas the day.

Best Words to Describe the Ocean

  1. Shallow: (noun) an area of the sea, a lake, or a river where the water is not very deep.
  2. Turquoise: (noun) a greenish-blue color.
  3. Furious: (adjective) extremely angry.
  4. Legendary: (adjective) remarkable enough to be famous; very well known.
  5. Hydrating: (verb) cause to absorb water.
  6. Massive: (adjective) exceptionally large.
  7. Endless: (adjective) having or seeming to have no end or limit.
  8. Choppy: (adjective) of a sea or river having many small waves.
  9. Perilous: (adjective) full of danger or risk.
  10. Rich: (adjective) plentiful; abundant.
  11. Tempestuous: (adjective) very stormy.
  12. Turbulent: (adjective) moving unsteadily or violently.
  13. Foggy: (adjective) full of or accompanied by fog.
  14. Hungry: (adjective) having a strong desire or craving.
  15. Relentless: (adjective) harsh or inflexible.
  16. Priceless: (adjective) so precious that its value cannot be determined.
  17. Majestic: (adjective) having or showing impressive beauty or dignity.
  18. Phenomenal: (adjective) very remarkable; extraordinary.
  19. Mighty: (adjective) possessing great and impressive power or strength, especially on account of size.
  20. Infinite: (adjective) limitless or endless in space, extent, or size; impossible to measure or calculate.
  21. Sullen: (adjective) bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy.
  22. Treacherous: (adjective) hazardous because of presenting hidden or unpredictable dangers.
  23. Insubstantial: (adjective) not solid or real; imaginary.
  24. Limitless: (adjective) without end, limit, or boundary.
  25. Gentle: (adjective) moderate in action, effect, or degree; not harsh or severe.
  26. Planetary: (adjective) relating to the earth as a planet.
  27. Hypnotic: (adjective) exerting a compelling, fascinating, or soporific effect.
  28. Peaceful: (adjective) free from disturbance; tranquil.
  29. Serene: (adjective) calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil.
  30. Cosmic: (adjective) inconceivably vast.
  31. Remote: (adjective) situated far from the main centers of population; distant.
  32. Mysterious: (adjective) difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify.
  33. Dominant: (adjective) most important, powerful, or influential.
  34. Vast: (adjective) very great extent or quantity; immense.
  35. Limpid: (adjective) of a liquid, free of anything that darkens; completely clear.
  36. Wide: (adjective) at a considerable or specified distance from a point or mark.
  37. Merciless: (adjective) showing no mercy or pity.
  38. Eternal: (adjective) lasting or existing forever; without end or beginning.
  39. Calm: (adjective) of the sea, not disturbed by large waves.
  40. Primordial: (adjective) existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval.
  41. Distant: (adjective) far away in space or time.
  42. Stormy: (adjective) having large waves or dark clouds because of windy or rainy conditions.
  43. Somber: (adjective) dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy.
  44. Ethereal: (adjective) extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.
  45. Everlasting: (adjective) lasting forever or a very long time.
  46. Ungovernable: (adjective) impossible to control or govern.
  47. Incredible: (adjective) difficult to believe; extraordinary.
  48. Restless: (adjective) offering no physical or emotional rest; involving constant activity or motion.
  49. Mystical: (adjective) inspiring a sense of spiritual mystery, awe, and fascination.
  50. Unfathomable: (adjective) of water or a natural feature, impossible to measure the extent of.
  51. Azure: (adjective) bright blue in color like a cloudless sky.
  52. Overbearing: (adjective) unpleasantly or arrogantly domineering.
  53. Crystalline: (adjective) very clear.
  54. Magnificent: (adjective) impressively beautiful, elaborate, or extravagant; striking.
  55. Everlasting: (adjective) lasting forever or a very long time.
  56. Never-ending: (adjective) something that seems to have no end.
  57. Frothy: (adjective) fizzy or something covered in a bunch of small bubbles.
  58. Ominous: (adjective) threatening or something that seems like something bad is going to happen.
  59. Misty: (adjective) hazy, foggy or cloudy.
  60. Teeming: (verb) something full or saturated with.
  61. Pontic: (adjective) a term relating to ancient Pontus, a region on the coast of the Black Sea in Turkey.

This article was originally published on