as in isles
a fairly small area of land completely surrounded by water
the island of Hawaii is the largest in the Hawaiian archipelago
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Recent Examples of islands
Families love Split for its walkable Old Town, beaches, and ferry access to islands like Hvar and Korčula, where kids can swim while grandparents explore medieval towns.
—
Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
The waterway separates two of Japan's main islands—Honshu to the south and Hokkaido to the north.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Dangerous conditions from the building swells will be concentrated along the eastern shores of the islands, forecasters said.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
That event will be visible from New Zealand, eastern Australia and Antarctica, along with several Pacific Ocean islands.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
However, nowhere feels more like a true escape than the Florida Keys, a 125-mile-long chain of islands off the coast of Florida just south of Miami, beginning at Key Largo and terminating in Key West.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Rocks from glacial terrains left bare by retreating ice, coral from the Great Barrier Reef, stones from islands facing rising sea levels, and other materials from devastated or threatened ecosystems are transformed into tiny objects of reflection, connection, prayer and renewal.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Kava is a beverage or extract typically made from the root of the pepper plant Piper methysticum in the South Pacific islands.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
The islands will naturally filter pollutants, reduce algae and create vital habitat for local wildlife, according to a social media post for the event.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
The waterway separates two of Japan's main islands—Honshu to the south and Hokkaido to the north.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Dangerous conditions from the building swells will be concentrated along the eastern shores of the islands, forecasters said.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
That event will be visible from New Zealand, eastern Australia and Antarctica, along with several Pacific Ocean islands.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
However, nowhere feels more like a true escape than the Florida Keys, a 125-mile-long chain of islands off the coast of Florida just south of Miami, beginning at Key Largo and terminating in Key West.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Rocks from glacial terrains left bare by retreating ice, coral from the Great Barrier Reef, stones from islands facing rising sea levels, and other materials from devastated or threatened ecosystems are transformed into tiny objects of reflection, connection, prayer and renewal.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Kava is a beverage or extract typically made from the root of the pepper plant Piper methysticum in the South Pacific islands.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
The islands will naturally filter pollutants, reduce algae and create vital habitat for local wildlife, according to a social media post for the event.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for islands
Noun
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Kate most recently sported the custom accessory during a trip to the Scottish isles of Mull and Iona with William in April, which fan blogs identified as the Gold Fixed Alphabet Necklace by Daniella Draper.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
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The third installment in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series will feature a darker, more Gothic aesthetic and tone following the idyllic Greek isles setting of Glass Onion.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Time,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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With roughly 180 resorts spread across its atolls, there are dozens of worthy five-star escapes to choose from.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
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That includes lifeguard Renan Ulloa at the Parks department, which is ending lifeguard service at natural swimming holes known as atolls.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The channel forked into a series of smaller canals, each branching farther or looping around islets or petering out into dead ends.—
Nathaniel Rich,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
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Rent one from Sea Panarea to discover hidden coves, sea caves, and the nearby islets of Basiluzzo and Lisca before settling in for sunset Negronis at the see-and-be-seen Bar del Porto.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Islands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/islands. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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