coastlines

noun

plural of coastline
as in coasts
the land adjacent to a body of water The state has mainly rocky coastline and few beaches. The plane flew along the eastern coastline.

Related Words

Relevance

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 coastlines Engineers are now adapting the same marine reactor for civilian energy grids on land and along coastlines. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026 Longtime earth science professor William Selby will draw on observation and research to explain how ocean temperatures and our changing weather patterns are transforming our coastlines. — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026 Our territorial boundaries meet different coastlines that support many unique aquatic ecosystems. — Candace Barone, Florida Times-Union, 15 Aug. 2026 But governments are also aware that as ice melts in the coming decades, transit seasons could extend and additional routes can open up, such as a potential trans-polar route that avoids Russian coastlines altogether. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 European observers will see the moon low in the western sky before dawn, creating dramatic opportunities to see and photograph the eclipsed moon above city skylines, coastlines and mountain landscapes as morning twilight begins. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Five years ago, the state created the Resilient Florida Program to help boost Florida’s efforts to protect inland waterways, coastlines, and shores, which all provide natural defenses against sea level rise. — Jaclyn De Medicci Bruneau, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 The design reminded me of an upscale country retreat, one with the most beautiful coastlines in the Caribbean. — Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Encounters with shifting coastlines, towering redwoods, and mycelial networks spark meditations on inheritance, resilience, and the work of remaking a life. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coastlines
  1. coasts
  2. shores
  3. beaches
Noun
  • Say ciao to the Roman Coast With so many coasts, coves and fishing villages to choose from in Italy, the Roman coast is not often the first place people mention for a beach holiday.
    — Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • Beach Hazards Statements remain in effect for the Oregon north, central, and southern coasts, as well as the south Washington coast.
    — Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Definition of coasts
Noun
  • Moore Russell celebrated with supporters Tuesday evening on the shores of Lake Orlando, declaring that the result showed people at the ballot box can overcome money.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Prince Harry and his family will leave the sunny shores of Southern California and return to the United Kingdom, a source familiar with the couple’s plans said.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of shores
Noun
  • The concierge can also arrange boat tours of dramatic beaches nearby accessible only by boat.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • These form the spine of the book, interwoven with descriptions of swims of varying lengths in a very wide range of locales—rivers, waterfalls, ponds, different coves and beaches, each different and beautifully captured for the reader.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of beaches

Browse Nearby Words

coastline
coastlines
coasts
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coastlines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coastlines. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tilde

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All