coral reef

noun

Definition of coral reefnext
as in barrier reef

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Example Sentences

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 coral reef Scientists have found an active coral community that may belong to a deep-sea coral reef system presumed to be dead decades ago, according to new research. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 23 July 2026 The Kon-Tiki crashed into a coral reef in the Tuamotu Islands after carrying Thor Heyerdahl and his five-member crew more than 4,000 miles from Peru. — USA Today, 21 July 2026 Plastic use is minimal, with clean sea and coral reef awareness shared among staff and guests. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026 Research also suggests that some chemical sunscreen ingredients may damage marine life, such as coral reefs. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for coral reef
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coral reef
barrier reef
Noun
  • 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
Definition of barrier reef

Browse Nearby Words

coracles
coral reef
coral reefs
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Cite this Entry

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

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