as in islands
a ring-shaped land mass surrounded by water and made of coral
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Recent Examples of atolls
Hawkes was born in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and adopted as a baby by an American family who raised him in Utah, thousands of miles from the coral atolls of his birthplace.
—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
24 June 2026
Darwin suspected that atolls formed when coral grew around volcanoes, creating a ring that remained when the volcano subsided.
—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
19 June 2026
Although the volcanic archipelago includes 137 islands, most of the Hawaiian islands are tiny uninhabited atolls, reefs or islets.
—
Brianna Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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 last major test While the Marshall Islands hasn’t seen a nuclear test since 1958 – the current US test site is underground in Nevada – the last test in the Pacific was in 1996, by France, one of 193 tests Paris conducted at South Pacific atolls over 30 years.
—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
24 June 2026
Darwin suspected that atolls formed when coral grew around volcanoes, creating a ring that remained when the volcano subsided.
—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
19 June 2026
Although the volcanic archipelago includes 137 islands, most of the Hawaiian islands are tiny uninhabited atolls, reefs or islets.
—
Brianna Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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 last major test While the Marshall Islands hasn’t seen a nuclear test since 1958 – the current US test site is underground in Nevada – the last test in the Pacific was in 1996, by France, one of 193 tests Paris conducted at South Pacific atolls over 30 years.
—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atolls
Noun
-
The country's spring lines up neatly with the American fall, and both islands come alive with wildflowers and blossoms as temperatures climb through November, all before the summer crowds arrive.
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Perched along the Sea of Marmara, the boutique property sits on the largest of the islands, Büyükada, whose Ottoman-era mansions are where intellectuals and aristocrats held court in the 19th century.
Noun
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Last year, Centara opened two new resorts in the North Male Atoll, a chain of over 50 islands and islets that’s home to mesmerising corals and marine life.
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La Romana's proximity to the pristine beaches of Saona Island and Catalina Island, two hidden islets that are easily accessible by boat, make this destination a must-see for travelers looking to explore beyond the typical tourist routes.
Cite this Entry
“Atolls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atolls. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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