the tip of the iceberg

noun phrase

: a small part of something (such as a problem) that is seen or known about when there is a much larger part that is not seen or known about

The news is shocking, but we may find out that the stories we've heard so far are just the tip of the iceberg.

Examples of the tip of the iceberg in a Sentence

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More troubling for Democrats is the fear that Minnesota is the tip of the iceberg. —

Matt K. Lewis, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026 The muddled history of the token’s origination is just the tip of the iceberg. —

Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026 And those moments were the tip of the iceberg for a night that found standing ovations given to songs and artists that were not as recognizable to everyone in the house, like the leaps to stand up and applaud that followed vocally stunning performances by Lucius and Judith Hill. —

Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026 Yet spray threes and paint touches are just the tip of the iceberg of what’s gone wrong on 33rd and Seventh. —

Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the tip of the iceberg

Browse Nearby Words

thetin

the tip of the iceberg

Thetis

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“The tip of the iceberg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20tip%20of%20the%20iceberg. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.

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