Synonyms

kraken

American

[krah-kuhn] / ˈkrɑ kən /

noun

(often initial capital letter)

a legendary sea monster causing large whirlpools off the coast of Norway.

kraken British

/ ˈkrɑːkən /

noun

a legendary sea monster of gigantic size believed to dwell off the coast of Norway

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

Why is kraken trending? On July 23, 2020, searches for kraken increased 4,782% compared to the previous week after the National Hockey League (NHL) announced its newest team in Seattle, Washington, will be known as the Kraken.

Etymology

Origin of kraken

From Norwegian

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“You can’t knife-fight a kraken!” said Mal.

From Literature

The kraken’s gray shape approached beneath the waves.

From Literature

With a shriek like a gull’s, the kraken rose up, breaking the surface twenty feet from the boat.

From Literature

The kraken screamed, and its tentacles retreated.

From Literature

As he did so, the kraken rose again; a tentacle flicked across the deck.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023