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
Bruce Beach, Guinea-Bissau The Bijagós archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, is composed of 88 islands, but only about 20 are permanently inhabited.
—
Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
Since the California Floristic Province includes northern Baja California and the islands west of it, Guadalupe palm, native to the most western of these islands, may properly be classified as a California native, too.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Emergency surcharges of $500 per TEU have also been added to shipments from the Indian subcontinent to east Africa and Indian Ocean islands.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
In this week's Far-Flung Postcard, NPR's Claire Harbage plunged underwater for an adventure in Indonesia's Raja Ampat islands, a vibrant marine biodiversity hotspot.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026
Magnetic islands and other disruptions can shut down reactions or damage reactor walls.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026
Ferries from Split reach Brač, Hvar, Vis, and Čiovo in under two hours, offering convenient access to nearby islands.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
The route to Crete is significantly longer and more perilous than the short trip from Turkey to nearby Greek islands.
—Lefteris Pitarakis, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
The route to Crete is significantly longer and more perilous than the short trip from Turkey to nearby Greek islands.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
Since the California Floristic Province includes northern Baja California and the islands west of it, Guadalupe palm, native to the most western of these islands, may properly be classified as a California native, too.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Emergency surcharges of $500 per TEU have also been added to shipments from the Indian subcontinent to east Africa and Indian Ocean islands.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
In this week's Far-Flung Postcard, NPR's Claire Harbage plunged underwater for an adventure in Indonesia's Raja Ampat islands, a vibrant marine biodiversity hotspot.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026
Magnetic islands and other disruptions can shut down reactions or damage reactor walls.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026
Ferries from Split reach Brač, Hvar, Vis, and Čiovo in under two hours, offering convenient access to nearby islands.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
The route to Crete is significantly longer and more perilous than the short trip from Turkey to nearby Greek islands.
—Lefteris Pitarakis, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
The route to Crete is significantly longer and more perilous than the short trip from Turkey to nearby Greek islands.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for islands
Noun
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Hassan Hakmoun and Adam Rudolph’s score circumnavigates the Mediterranean — a sea which touches Duato’s native Spain, North Africa, the Greek isles, Turkey, Syria, Israel and Gaza.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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With over 1,000 miles of coastline, vibrant cities, funky small towns, lush preserves, and even tropical isles that can compete with some of the best islands in the Caribbean, Florida invites you to explore and decide where your life could unfold.—
Carrie Honaker,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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The atolls and rocks that made up the Chagos Archipelago offered more meager economic possibilities.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Toward Smarter Cell Therapies That is where the cyborg islets from Liu and Alvarez could make a difference.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
4 Mar. 2026
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Each lodging also comes with its own powerboat, perfect for exploring nearby islets and hopping over to the marinas at nearby cays.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Islands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/islands. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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