as in bays
an area of sea water that is separated from the ocean by a reef or sandbar
Beyond the beach there was a picturesque blue lagoon.
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Recent Examples of lagoons
But the lagoons at the mouth of coastal creeks such as Aliso Creek and nearby San Mateo Creek are usually closed off from the sea by sand that builds up.
—
Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
The Tofinu took refuge in the lagoons along the Bight of Benin, a core area of the slave trade, venturing forth in canoes with harpoons, javelins, and swords to fight off raiders from powerful nearby kingdoms.
—Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Cool off from the desert heat with refreshing swims in saltwater lagoons at Baltinache.
—Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
The photo captures a moment when frozen lagoons, sea ice, and shoreline all coexist in mid-June, a useful context for understanding seasonal ice persistence in a region where timing affects ecosystems, coastal erosion and human activity.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
The options for hiking in North County include everything from lagoons to canyons and even the remains of a volcano.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
This clay molding process was known to preserve the form of soft animals in oxygen-poor areas, such as the muds at the bottom of lagoons and deep-sea trenches, Sereno says.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
At least 70 whales have perished since the start of the year in the shallow, protected lagoons of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula where the animals have congregated for eons to calf, nurse and breed, said Steven Swartz, a marine scientist who has studied gray whales since 1977.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
This could indicate that there were environmental differences between the ancient Scottish lagoons and that some dinosaurs may have preferred one lagoon over another.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
The Tofinu took refuge in the lagoons along the Bight of Benin, a core area of the slave trade, venturing forth in canoes with harpoons, javelins, and swords to fight off raiders from powerful nearby kingdoms.
—Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Cool off from the desert heat with refreshing swims in saltwater lagoons at Baltinache.
—Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
The photo captures a moment when frozen lagoons, sea ice, and shoreline all coexist in mid-June, a useful context for understanding seasonal ice persistence in a region where timing affects ecosystems, coastal erosion and human activity.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
The options for hiking in North County include everything from lagoons to canyons and even the remains of a volcano.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
This clay molding process was known to preserve the form of soft animals in oxygen-poor areas, such as the muds at the bottom of lagoons and deep-sea trenches, Sereno says.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
At least 70 whales have perished since the start of the year in the shallow, protected lagoons of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula where the animals have congregated for eons to calf, nurse and breed, said Steven Swartz, a marine scientist who has studied gray whales since 1977.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
This could indicate that there were environmental differences between the ancient Scottish lagoons and that some dinosaurs may have preferred one lagoon over another.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lagoons
Noun
-
The project will also include a redesign of the hospital’s ambulance bays to include six total bays, three for drop-offs and three for staging.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
-
What the engineers didn't take into account was that the airflow over the bomber's wings and fuselage along with the open bomb bays generated violent turbulence.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Online booking platforms have helped regular tourists to secure seats ahead of time for this short but significant connection to Siquijor, an island known for waterfalls, white-sand coves, and folklore.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
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As such, its mass of untamed, scrubby green can today be traipsed through on foot or horseback, via ethereal blue coves such as Cala Marinella, the odd wandering fox and to the soothing rhythm of Aleppo pines rustling in the hot wind.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There are lots of one-week Norwegian fjords cruises; longer voyages pair the fjords with Arctic Norway.—
Jane Archer,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Dec. 2025
-
The Yacht Collection’s 2027 itineraries include 50 new European journeys, including 12 new destinations across the Greek Isles, the fjords and the Adriatic.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Get On The Water Matlacha is surrounded by mangroves and estuaries full of wildlife like dolphins, rays, and manatees.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
-
But the discharges also can overwhelm the delicate estuaries east and west of the state’s largest lake and, during the warm summer months, spread blooms of toxic algae, an issue that has become more persistent in recent years.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Campers and hikers should avoid streams or creeks.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Several people and their pets were rescued early Monday morning as creeks around the Central Valley swelled from the recent storms.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The stones stand between two lochs on the largest of the Orkney Islands, off the northeastern tip of mainland Scotland.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
-
What with its rippling mountains, meditative lochs, and misty woodlands, Scotland’s moody atmosphere hits its stride in the cooler seasons.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The roads in the area were expected to be closed for several hours.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Or why roads and other critical infrastructure projects now take untold years and insane amounts of money to complete, and by the time they are finally opened are already rendered all but obsolete?—
Lee Steinhauer,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lagoons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lagoons. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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