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
Canaries got their name from the islands, not the other way around.
—
Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
The storm will likely bring winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 55 mph across Cape Cod and the islands.
—Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 30 Jan. 2026
The country is so beloved, three different Bahamian islands (the Exumas, Eleuthera, and Paradise Island) made the list of T+L readers' favorite islands in the Caribbean and beyond.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2026
The single difficulty associated with such a trip is choosing which of the three islands to visit.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
In addition to the Knott-Cowen Tract, the map shows that Paradise Island and Skeet Key, two islands to the west, are included in the project plans.
—Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
The eastern islands are lower in elevation, geologically older and much drier.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
But the Navy air station on the territory closed in 1948, and the islands never became the significant military asset once envisioned.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
The storm will likely bring winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 55 mph across Cape Cod and the islands.
—Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 30 Jan. 2026
The country is so beloved, three different Bahamian islands (the Exumas, Eleuthera, and Paradise Island) made the list of T+L readers' favorite islands in the Caribbean and beyond.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2026
The single difficulty associated with such a trip is choosing which of the three islands to visit.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
In addition to the Knott-Cowen Tract, the map shows that Paradise Island and Skeet Key, two islands to the west, are included in the project plans.
—Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
The eastern islands are lower in elevation, geologically older and much drier.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
But the Navy air station on the territory closed in 1948, and the islands never became the significant military asset once envisioned.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for islands
Noun
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The writer/director added that the isles already possessed the unique combination of beauty and decay that the story required — eliminating the need to build many new sets.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
25 Jan. 2026
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Brazil explained that Terceira holds more festivals than all the other Azorean isles combined.—
Gisela Williams,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Scattered across the lapis lazuli expanse of the Indian Ocean, Seychelles is a collection of 115 islands and atolls off the coast of East Africa, one of the world's most remote and least populated nations.—
Stephanie Rafanelli,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Dec. 2025
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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
Noun
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Bocas Town, as it’s known, is also the gateway to the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, made up of nine islands and more than 200 tiny islets.—
John Bowe,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Feb. 2026
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From nearly every vantage point, the estate offers unobstructed views of the Mokulua Islands, the twin islets that sit just offshore and rank among O‘ahu’s most recognizable natural landmarks.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Islands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/islands. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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