spider crab
noun
: any of a family (Majidae) of crabs with extremely long legs and nearly triangular bodies which they often cover with kelp
Examples of spider crab in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Japanese spider crabs the size of Labrador retrievers stalk a whale skeleton.
—
John Metcalfe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
Octopi, spider crabs, urchins, and countless fish are already settling in.
—Terry Ward, TIME, 25 July 2024
Monterey is famous for its kelp forests and the unique marine life that thrives in that ecosystem, like sea otters, spider crabs, nudibranchs, massive sea stars, and sea lions.
—Outside Online, 24 July 2024
In our quest for Wild Wales, we were supposed to have been at the bottom of Cardigan Bay, snorkeling for spider crabs with James Lynch.
—Tom Vanderbilt, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2024
In the deep, 13-foot-wide giant spider crabs are usually the predators themselves.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2024
Also on the menu were massive crab legs from Japanese spider crabs, bison burgers, ice cream and cheese straws.
—David Reamer | Alaska History, Anchorage Daily News, 7 May 2023
What is a Japanese spider crab?
—National Geographic, 16 Sep. 2020
In the depths of the Pacific Ocean lives the otherworldly Japanese spider crab.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
John Metcalfe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
Octopi, spider crabs, urchins, and countless fish are already settling in.
—Terry Ward, TIME, 25 July 2024
Monterey is famous for its kelp forests and the unique marine life that thrives in that ecosystem, like sea otters, spider crabs, nudibranchs, massive sea stars, and sea lions.
—Outside Online, 24 July 2024
In our quest for Wild Wales, we were supposed to have been at the bottom of Cardigan Bay, snorkeling for spider crabs with James Lynch.
—Tom Vanderbilt, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2024
In the deep, 13-foot-wide giant spider crabs are usually the predators themselves.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2024
Also on the menu were massive crab legs from Japanese spider crabs, bison burgers, ice cream and cheese straws.
—David Reamer | Alaska History, Anchorage Daily News, 7 May 2023
What is a Japanese spider crab?
—National Geographic, 16 Sep. 2020
In the depths of the Pacific Ocean lives the otherworldly Japanese spider crab.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Spider crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spider%20crab. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share