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
The islands are home to a very conservative branch of Calvinism which believes deeply in the Sabbath.
—
Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government are not completely scrapping the plan to hand the islands to Mauritius.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
In recent years, the United Nations and its top court have urged Britain to return the islands to Mauritius.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
The end of the day blazed orange, the distant shapes of the Aran islands blurring on the horizon.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
Hotspots are generally associated with islands.
—ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2026
One of the gates of these islands connects to the superconducting cavity built using Josephson junctions that allow quantum currents to flow and complete a microwave circuit.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026
Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government are not completely scrapping the plan to hand the islands to Mauritius.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
In recent years, the United Nations and its top court have urged Britain to return the islands to Mauritius.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
The end of the day blazed orange, the distant shapes of the Aran islands blurring on the horizon.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
Hotspots are generally associated with islands.
—ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2026
One of the gates of these islands connects to the superconducting cavity built using Josephson junctions that allow quantum currents to flow and complete a microwave circuit.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 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
-
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 13 Apr. 2026.
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