islands

noun

plural of island
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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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 For the unfamiliar, Cape Verde, or Cabo Verde as it is known to locals, is a cluster of 10 volcanic islands in the central Atlantic Ocean, about 350 miles off the coast of West Africa. — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 15 July 2026 From television to literature, there is a history of some truly great and groundbreaking science fiction coming from this loose collection of islands. — William Worrall, Space.com, 15 July 2026 The chef spent months traveling throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, discovering local dishes inspired by the regions that the islands' settlers came from (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and more). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026 The results show that many of the most expensive places to visit are remote islands, polar regions, and safari destinations, where higher transportation costs and premium travel experiences can quickly drive up the overall cost of a trip. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026 The Tunb Islands are small islands located in the Persian Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz. — Chloe Taylor,kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 15 July 2026 Iran took control of three islands — Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb — from what would become the United Arab Emirates in 1971. — Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 15 July 2026 From Honolulu, the nonstop flight accommodates same-day connections to Hawaii’s other islands, the release said. — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 14 July 2026 One of Tuscany’s most tranquil islands The Tuscan island of Giglio hit the news in 2012 when a cruise ship, the Costa Concordia, ran aground here and capsized, with the loss of 32 lives. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 8 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for islands
  1. isles
  2. atolls
  3. islets
Noun
  • Nolan, who also wrote the screenplay, cuts between Ulysses’ trials and Telemachus’ travels through the Ionian isles to find out whether his father is still alive – a matter of some importance both to his incipient manhood and to Penelope back home.
    — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 16 July 2026
  • Europe is dotted with picture-perfect isles that lie waiting to be explored.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 8 July 2026
Definition of isles
Noun
  • Potential profits have encouraged traffickers to ship massive amounts of illicit drugs to both countries, often across the Pacific Ocean from South America via the Pacific Islands, a loose cluster of thousands of islands and atolls.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Hawkes was born in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and adopted as a baby by an American family who raised him in Utah, thousands of miles from the coral atolls of his birthplace.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 24 June 2026
Definition of atolls
Noun
  • One of Norway’s 18 official scenic routes, the Atlantic Road links islands, islets, bridges, and exposed stretches of coastline into one of the country’s most memorable drives.
    — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Last year, Centara opened two new resorts in the North Male Atoll, a chain of over 50 islands and islets that’s home to mesmerising corals and marine life.
    — Deeya Sonalkar, TheWeek, 18 June 2026
Definition of islets

Browse Nearby Words

island
islands
isle
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Cite this Entry

“Islands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/islands. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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