iconoclast
playSimple Definition of iconoclast
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: a person who criticizes or opposes beliefs and practices that are widely accepted
Examples of iconoclast in a sentence
<notorious as an iconoclast, that music critic isn't afraid to go after sacred cows>
Did You Know?
Iconoclast is a word that often shows up on vocabulary lists and College Board tests. How will you remember the meaning of this vocabulary-boosting term? If you already know the word icon, you're halfway there. An "icon" is a picture that represents something, and is often a religious image. "Icon" comes from the Greek eikōn, which is from eikenai, meaning "to resemble." "Iconoclast" comes to us by way of Medieval Latin from Middle Greek eikonoklastēs, which joins "eikōn" with a form of the word klan, meaning "to break." "Iconoclast" literally means "image destroyer."
Origin of iconoclast
Medieval Latin iconoclastes, from Middle Greek eikonoklastēs, literally, image destroyer, from Greek eikono- + klan to break — more at clast
First Known Use: 1641
Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms
Zen, antinomian, avatar, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan, mantra
Rhymes with iconoclast
Learn More about iconoclast
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "iconoclast" Spanish Central: Translation of "iconoclast" Nglish: Translation of "iconoclast" for Spanish speakers
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