CAY Synonyms: 10 Similar and Opposite Words

cay

noun

Definition of cay

as in atoll

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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 cay For the Bahamas, that means looking beyond Nassau’s cruise port crowds to discover what this nation of 700 islands and cays really offers. — AFAR Media, 11 May 2026 Bequia is the gateway to the 32 islands and cays that comprise the Grenadines, so a trip to the island isn't complete with taking to the seas. — Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026 Raja Ampat, Indonesia Raja Ampat is an Indonesian archipelago made up of 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals off the northwest tip of New Guinea. — Jasmine Ting, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for cay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cay

Noun

Colonial powers reshaped many atolls, removing native forests to plant fast-growing coconut palm plantations.

— NPR, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
The tiny coral limestone atoll was colonized by Germany and later administered by Australia before becoming an independent republic in 1968.

— Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of atoll

Noun

But for Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), the local personalities pale in comparison to the evils lurking beneath the cursed island’s surface.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
It’s known for its remoteness, with rugged islands, incredible marine life, and, yes, its legendary Komodo dragons—the planet’s largest predatory lizards that are often compared to dinosaurs.

— Annie Daly, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of island

Noun

Further east, in Jordan, the world’s northernmost tropical coral reef system, the Aqaba Marine Reserve, was added as a natural site, while the Village of Sidi Bou Saïd became one of the list’s newest cultural sites.

— Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 2026
But just like on a coral reef or savanna, eliminating predators threw the entire ecosystem out of whack.

— Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 27 July 2026

Definition of coral reef

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cays

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“Cay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cay. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of cay

noun

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