BARRIER REEF Synonyms: 10 Similar and Opposite Words

barrier reef

noun

Definition of barrier reef

as in coral reef

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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.

Recent Examples of barrier reef Roughly 15 minutes from San Pedro, the shallow patch-reef complex sits inside the main barrier reef. — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026 Just offshore lies the Mesoamerican Reef, the largest barrier reef system in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest in the world, an extremely vulnerable ecosystem. — Natalie Leticia Gallón, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026 Grace Bay consistently ranks among the world’s most beautiful beaches, partly because a barrier reef a mile offshore keeps the waters calm and free of swells. — Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for barrier reef

Recent Examples of Synonyms for barrier reef

coral reef

Noun

That additional heat is already threatening coral reef and mangrove ecosystems, seagrasses and other aspects of the marine food web.

— Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026
Tourists can take advantage of oceanside resorts offering luxury stays, snorkeling adventures in the rich coral reef or a hike through Haleakalā National Park.

— Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of coral reef

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barrier

barrier reef

barrier reefs

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“Barrier reef.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barrier%20reef. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of barrier reef

noun

Example Sentences

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