as in islands
a ring-shaped land mass surrounded by water and made of coral
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Recent Examples of atolls
This island is farther flung than most, but the 35-minute flight by seaplane from Mal gives a spectacular view of the atolls at 5000 feet.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
The Republic of the Marshall Islands, or RMI, is situated roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia and comprises 29 atolls, five islands, and 1,151 inlets, spread across 750,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean.
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 21 Apr. 2026
Pritzker Prize–winning architect Tadao Ando designed the Naoshima New Museum of Art, which opened last May, overlooking the remote atolls of the Seto Inland Sea.
—Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2026
The atolls and rocks that made up the Chagos Archipelago offered more meager economic possibilities.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
The radiation effects have been ruinous, according to US government reports cited by the Atomic Heritage Foundation, which said the testing was responsible for 55% of cancers on some of the islands’ northern atolls.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
The main islands, including Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai, are among a chain of islands, atolls, reefs and volcanoes beneath the sea that stretches 1,700 miles in the Pacific Ocean.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
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
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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
The Republic of the Marshall Islands, or RMI, is situated roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia and comprises 29 atolls, five islands, and 1,151 inlets, spread across 750,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean.
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 21 Apr. 2026
Pritzker Prize–winning architect Tadao Ando designed the Naoshima New Museum of Art, which opened last May, overlooking the remote atolls of the Seto Inland Sea.
—Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2026
The atolls and rocks that made up the Chagos Archipelago offered more meager economic possibilities.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
The radiation effects have been ruinous, according to US government reports cited by the Atomic Heritage Foundation, which said the testing was responsible for 55% of cancers on some of the islands’ northern atolls.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
The main islands, including Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai, are among a chain of islands, atolls, reefs and volcanoes beneath the sea that stretches 1,700 miles in the Pacific Ocean.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atolls
Noun
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Both Britain and Argentina have historic claims to the islands, and the two countries fought a short but fierce war in 1982 after Argentina tried to seize control of them.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
25 Apr. 2026
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The water park is the big project that needs completing to put NCL and Royal Caribbean’s islands head to head.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On the Peruvian side, travelers can visit the Uros floating islands, the artificial islets woven from totora reeds and home to communities that have lived here for centuries, then settle into a rustic homestay at Amantaní for a quieter look at life on the lake.—
Carla Vianna,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
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Although it was affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Siesta Key—part of a string of islets along Florida’s southwest coast—is well on its way to recovery.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atolls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atolls. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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