trawler

noun

trawl·​er ˈtrȯ-lər How to pronounce trawler (audio)
Synonyms of trawlernext
1
: a boat used in trawling
2
: a person who fishes by trawling

Examples of trawler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Earlier this year, the Bandero collided with an industrial krill trawler in Antarctica in what the ship’s Norwegian owner said was a deliberate attack that endangered its crew and could have caused an environmental disaster. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 America's oldest seaport, established in 1623, still works hard for a living, with its trawlers sharing the harbor with whale-watch boats and schooners. — Jenn Sinrich, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026 As the trawler floated around Lake Jesup, the hose sucked in thousands of gallons of the murky beige-and-green water, and siphoned it into a holding tank. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026 This group staged a coup d’état, taking Michael Bates captive for a number of days before putting him aboard a fishing trawler bound for the Netherlands. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for trawler

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trawler was in 1629

Rhymes for trawler

See All Rhymes for trawler

Browse Nearby Words

trawl board
trawler
trawlerman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trawler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trawler. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

trawler

noun
trawl·​er ˈtrȯ-lər How to pronounce trawler (audio)
: a boat used for trawling

More from Merriam-Webster on trawler

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for trawler

Nglish: Translation of trawler for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trawler

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