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
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
With distinctive communities scattered across thousands of islands, there are seemingly infinite regional delicacies to keep an eye out for.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
But taking the islands is just one part of the task.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Video footage posted that day to Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, by one of the Bright Gold’s crew and verified by NBC News, shows the ship passing between the two islands.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
People have become accustomed to it on the islands.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
The first obstacle for the marines would be getting their ships—which would be carrying combat troops, helicopters, fighter jets, and amphibious assault vehicles—to successfully land on the islands.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Travelers can also check in to Knipoch House, overlooking Loch Feochan, the perfect base for a day trip to the village of Glencoe or to set out on boat trips to Inner Hebrides islands Mull and Iona.
—Ramona Saviss, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
With distinctive communities scattered across thousands of islands, there are seemingly infinite regional delicacies to keep an eye out for.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
But taking the islands is just one part of the task.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Video footage posted that day to Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, by one of the Bright Gold’s crew and verified by NBC News, shows the ship passing between the two islands.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
People have become accustomed to it on the islands.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
The first obstacle for the marines would be getting their ships—which would be carrying combat troops, helicopters, fighter jets, and amphibious assault vehicles—to successfully land on the islands.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Travelers can also check in to Knipoch House, overlooking Loch Feochan, the perfect base for a day trip to the village of Glencoe or to set out on boat trips to Inner Hebrides islands Mull and Iona.
—Ramona Saviss, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Islands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/islands. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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