variants also ikon
1
as in hero
a person who is the object of extreme or uncritical devotion Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and other icons of pop culture

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2
as in symbol
a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader the player's remote control is very user-friendly as it doesn't use any icons that you haven't seen a million times before

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 icon Among the notable new names set to walk the halls of the ennui-addled series are Natasha Lyonne, Eli Roth, YouTube icon Trisha Paytas, True Blood star Sam Trammell, and Till luminary Danielle Deadwyler. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025 In a wheelchair since a 2012 stroke, the 79-year-old icon was still sharp as a tack — as numerous bon mots proved — with a vivid memory matched only by his dry humor. Katherine Turman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025 Hocus Pocus 3, another sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic starring Midler, 79, is in the works, according to the screen icon. Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025 To be sure, the Nervi brand has carved out a niche with its glamourous attires paying tribute to the ‘70s and ‘80s female icons, rich in sequins and marabou feathers and featuring sophisticated constructions inspired by the world of lingerie. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for icon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icon
Noun
  • Trump received a hero’s welcome by the Knesset — as well as being briefly heckled by a left-wing member, who was promptly escorted out — after brokering a ceasefire that raised hopes for lasting peace in the region.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
  • There’s a cosmogony in which the world is fashioned from the corpse of a slain giant or a protohuman, and another in which a hero, Prometheus-style, steals fire from the gods and gives it to mortals.
    Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Click the Save or Save As icon (the diskette symbol) to store your changes.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Its leather jackets became a cultural symbol in the ’90s and 2000s — worn by legends like Biggie and Dipset — representing pride, toughness, and self-expression.
    Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Joyner used HeyGen, a generative AI video platform, to create his avatar, training it with a five-minute studio recording that captured his appearance and speech patterns.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
  • As if the people were a chorus of the voiceless, and she their avatar.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • As for whether the Galaxy Quest star would ever reprise her role as the iconic heroine Ripley?
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
  • So far this season, the 22-year-old star has caught 19 passes for 225 yards in four games.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Malinche’s negative image was solidified by Nobel Prize in Literature winner Octavio Paz.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Another kibbutz member approached a local TV correspondent, urging their channel not to stop airing the images of the returning hostages even as the high-level speeches at the Knesset began.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Animated characters like Tony the Tiger, Count Chocula and Fred Flintstone blurred the line between ads and morning cartoons.
    Alice Callahan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The novel can get busy—Taylor introduces each of Wyeth’s studio mates in the first chapter, then all but abandons half of them to squeeze in more significant characters—but there’s a warmth in the overcrowding.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Speaking to Radio Times last week, Al Murray, co-creator of Spitting Image‘s YouTube incarnation, defended the series, citing freedom of speech.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
  • But Gunn says the Caped Crusader isn’t necessarily coming through this incarnation.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In addition to being functional, these waterproof boots are stylish, too(even celebrities like Kate Winslet appreciate a fall Chelsea boot).
    Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Icon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icon. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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