as in island
a ring-shaped land mass surrounded by water and made of coral
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Recent Examples of atoll
Or an historian of Polynesian culture giving a lecture about tattooing, or the time Captain Bligh stopped on the atoll to look for the mutineer Fletcher Christian.
—
Antonia Quirke, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
On the atoll, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star and Edge List honoree The Brando serves as a testament to the celebrity’s vision of building an eco-friendly resort that would not harm its surroundings.
—Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The airport is expected to serve as a major boost for the atoll’s 1,000 residents, who currently rely on an infrequent, multi-day transport ship—also provided through Chinese assistance—to reach the nearest runway and access flights to other parts of the state and beyond.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
The last major test While the Marshall Islands hasn’t seen a nuclear test since 1958 – the current US test site is underground in Nevada – the last test in the Pacific was in 1996, by France, one of 193 tests Paris conducted at South Pacific atolls over 30 years.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atoll
Antonia Quirke, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
On the atoll, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star and Edge List honoree The Brando serves as a testament to the celebrity’s vision of building an eco-friendly resort that would not harm its surroundings.
—Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The airport is expected to serve as a major boost for the atoll’s 1,000 residents, who currently rely on an infrequent, multi-day transport ship—also provided through Chinese assistance—to reach the nearest runway and access flights to other parts of the state and beyond.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
The last major test While the Marshall Islands hasn’t seen a nuclear test since 1958 – the current US test site is underground in Nevada – the last test in the Pacific was in 1996, by France, one of 193 tests Paris conducted at South Pacific atolls over 30 years.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atoll
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atoll
Noun
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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer has made millions of dollars investing in offshore private equity funds connected to islands known for lax tax policies, according to tax returns posted Thursday.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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With distinctive communities scattered across thousands of islands, there are seemingly infinite regional delicacies to keep an eye out for.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Cayo Falcones is a cay, or small island, off Cuba’s north coast, near Corralillo, a rural town in the Villa Clara province of Cuba.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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Beyond its unique wildlife, the uninhabited cay offers white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and excellent snorkeling.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
Noun
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Guests can participate in coral reef restoration, ecological monitoring and other hands-on initiatives that help decrease The Nam Hai’s environmental footprint.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
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Stay entertained with tennis, Zumba, and dance contests, while nearby cenotes, snorkeling, and the world’s second-largest coral reef add to the excitement.—
Sheryl Nance Nash,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atoll.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atoll. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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