Kraken Meaning: Here’s What It Means and How to Use It

If you dabble in cryptocurrency or are particularly fond of Scandinavian folklore, you’ve likely stumbled across the word Kraken. Do you know what it really means? 

Read on as we explore the term Kraken to uncover its definition, origin, and more. By the end of this post, you’ll have a much better understanding of what Kraken means and how it’s used in a sentence. 

What Is the Definition of Kraken?

Whether you are talking about the legendary sea monster of the northern seas, a huge sea monster of Norwegian legend, or perhaps the colossal sea monster in Norse mythology that attacks sailors and ships the word Kraken will likely come to mind. 

Simply put, the word Kraken can be defined as an mythical sea monster that looks like a giant squid. That said, the name Kraken is also tied to cryptocurrency. 

In 2011, the United States-based cryptocurrency exchange and bank Kraken was founded and provided trading between fiat currencies and cryptocurrency. 

What Is the Etymology of Kraken?

We can trace the origin of the Kraken (said to appear off the coast of Norway) to the time of the Norwegian bishop Pontoppidan, who lived between 1698 and 1764. 

Pontoppidan (who wrote about the sea creature) is thought to have mistaken a cephalopod of the genus Architeuthis for the Kraken. Thus, the myth of the fabulous sea creature began. Of course, this is just a theory. No one is 100 percent certain of the exact start behind this popular legend. 

After more than 150 years of research into the mysterious giant squids that inhabit the world’s many oceans, the largest Architeuthis ever recorded reached 18 meters in length. That’s basically a Kraken to us!

What Are the Synonyms and Antonyms of Kraken?

Now that you’re better acquainted with our word of the day, it’s time to review a few synonyms and antonyms. Synonyms and antonyms can help you to remember the words that you’re trying to learn as well as improve your existing vocabulary. That said, what exactly are synonyms and antonyms?

In short, a synonym is a word or phrase that has a similar meaning to a given word whereas an antonym is a word that is opposite in meaning. 

Synonyms of Kraken include:

• Squid
• Calamari
• Tentacled creature
• Cephalopod 
• Inkfish
• Giant squid
• Mollusk
• Sea serpent
• Oarfish
• Sea serpent
• Leviathan
• Hydra 
  

Currently, there are no known antonyms for Kraken in the English language. 

How Can You Use Kraken in a Sentence?

By now, you know that our word of the day is the name of a legendary sea monster known to cause large whirlpools in the ocean, but do you know how to use it in a sentence? Worry not; we’ve compiled a list of sentence examples for you to review and study below:

“To this day, my baby brother’s favorite line from the film Clash of the Titans is ‘Release the Kraken!’ He runs around all day in his pampers yelling it from room to room.” 

“Did you hear that the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken is launching its own non-fungible token (NFT) platform in the coming months?”

“Apparently, the Kraken could be a massive cuttlefish as opposed to a massive squid.”

“Did you know that Kraken is one of the longest-running and most reliable exchanges for cryptocurrency globally?”

“Peter got a tattoo of the Kraken sinking a pirate ship on his shoulder.”

“Normally, I am not a fan of any remake, but I will gladly jump at any reason to watch another movie about Zeus or the Kraken.” 

“If you’re looking for the giant squid known as the Kraken, you may want to consider starting your hunt in Greenland, Iceland, or Norway.”

“Did you invest in the Bitcoin trading platform called Kraken?”

“Some folks believe they saw a Kraken wash up on the shores of a Danish beach back in the 60s.”

“It was a calm day on the ocean until we saw the giant tentacles of the Kraken emerge from the sea.”

“There have been many sightings of giant squid over the years, but no Kraken.”

“I am not from Seattle, but my favorite professional hockey team is the Seattle Kraken.”

“Some folks are terrified of swimming in the ocean due to the fear of getting attacked by the Kraken.”

What Is the Seattle Kraken?

Alternatively, the Kraken — AKA the Seattle Kraken — is a professional ice hockey team based out of Seattle, Washington. 

The Kraken compete for the Stanley Cup as members of the Pacific Division in the National Hockey League (NHL) and are the first professional hockey team to play in Seattle since the Seattle Totems of the Western Hockey League played their last game in 1975. 

The Kraken’s logo is a callback to the Seattle Metropolitans, who in 1917 became the first American team to win the Stanley Cup, but ultimately folded in 1924. 

Recap

Kraken is commonly used when referring to a colossal sea monster that is often portrayed as an octopus, squid, or cuttlefish, but it’s our word of the day is also the name of a popular cryptocurrency as well as a hockey team in Seattle, Washington.   

Sources:

Kraken – Bitcoin Exchange Review | BitcoinWiki

giant squid | Description, SIze, & Facts | Britannica

Kraken synonyms – 26 Words and Phrases for Kraken | Thesaurus