as in isles
a fairly small area of land completely surrounded by water
the island of Hawaii is the largest in the Hawaiian archipelago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 islands
But many French Polynesian islands—including Bora Bora—are quite isolated, so finding such little comforts is often very inconvenient, not to mention extremely expensive.
—
Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
This, as the name suggests, is a set of islands that includes mainland Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
The situation is particularly bad in the southern provinces and islands, where garbage collection is sometimes as low as 57%, meaning garbage can be left in dumpsters and trash cans for days.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
This honor recognizes the islands’ unique abundance of terrestrial and marine species found nowhere else on the planet.
—ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
Wildly beautiful, Sydney Harbour National Park protects the islands and foreshore around the famous harbour, including some of the most breathtaking beaches, bushland, and coastal trails in the world.
—Sophie Davies, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
Accessible by stairs or elevator, the expansive kitchen on the garden level is decked out with double islands featuring White Danby marble counters.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2026
There are a lot of islands in the Caribbean and elsewhere.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026
Now new research published February 11 in PLOS One offers evidence that a Peruvian civilization thriving before the rise of the Inca Empire in the early 1400s was applying guano from those islands to its maize crops by at least 1250.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 11 Feb. 2026
Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
This, as the name suggests, is a set of islands that includes mainland Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
The situation is particularly bad in the southern provinces and islands, where garbage collection is sometimes as low as 57%, meaning garbage can be left in dumpsters and trash cans for days.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
This honor recognizes the islands’ unique abundance of terrestrial and marine species found nowhere else on the planet.
—ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
Wildly beautiful, Sydney Harbour National Park protects the islands and foreshore around the famous harbour, including some of the most breathtaking beaches, bushland, and coastal trails in the world.
—Sophie Davies, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
Accessible by stairs or elevator, the expansive kitchen on the garden level is decked out with double islands featuring White Danby marble counters.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2026
There are a lot of islands in the Caribbean and elsewhere.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026
Now new research published February 11 in PLOS One offers evidence that a Peruvian civilization thriving before the rise of the Inca Empire in the early 1400s was applying guano from those islands to its maize crops by at least 1250.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for islands
Noun
-
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
-
Now, back on the market for $30 million, the 650-acre spread is one of the country’s most expensive isles on offer with infinite possibilities for creating your own Caribbean wonderland.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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 28 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
