as in dissident
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
the book offers iconoclastic and irreverent portraits of some of history's most sacred cows
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Recent Examples of iconoclastic
Most of the works are from series such as Canal Zone, Protest Paintings, and The Entertainers, digging deep into Prince’s iconoclastic id.
—
Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
Ted Turner, an outspoken, iconoclastic businessman, media mogul and philanthropist whose visionary creation of a 24-hour news network changed the landscape of television, and news, forever, died at 87.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Massie’s campaign had erected a large tent there, in anticipation that a big crowd would flock to hear perhaps the most outspoken and iconoclastic Republican in Congress.
—Joshua Green, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
Phillippe, who has a multi-year deal, will star as a brilliant, iconoclastic detective who moves to Nashville from New York.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
And Marc Malkin brings us a Just for Variety interview with John Waters, the iconoclastic director who turns 80 on April 22.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
By contrast, Lillian’s counterpart and best friend is cast member and former standup comedian Gina Ross, a sarcastic, iconoclastic, in-your-face performer.
—Lee Kelly, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
In the film, middle school teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) is recruited to help save Earth because of his history as a cell biologist with some iconoclastic ideas about life in the universe.
—Tara Haelle, NPR, 12 Apr. 2026
There’s an iconoclastic aspect to her as well, suggesting a challenge to the gods and nature in figuration that is ultimately rejected.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 27 Feb. 2026
Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
Ted Turner, an outspoken, iconoclastic businessman, media mogul and philanthropist whose visionary creation of a 24-hour news network changed the landscape of television, and news, forever, died at 87.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Massie’s campaign had erected a large tent there, in anticipation that a big crowd would flock to hear perhaps the most outspoken and iconoclastic Republican in Congress.
—Joshua Green, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
Phillippe, who has a multi-year deal, will star as a brilliant, iconoclastic detective who moves to Nashville from New York.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
And Marc Malkin brings us a Just for Variety interview with John Waters, the iconoclastic director who turns 80 on April 22.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
By contrast, Lillian’s counterpart and best friend is cast member and former standup comedian Gina Ross, a sarcastic, iconoclastic, in-your-face performer.
—Lee Kelly, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
In the film, middle school teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) is recruited to help save Earth because of his history as a cell biologist with some iconoclastic ideas about life in the universe.
—Tara Haelle, NPR, 12 Apr. 2026
There’s an iconoclastic aspect to her as well, suggesting a challenge to the gods and nature in figuration that is ultimately rejected.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for iconoclastic
Adjective
-
During the pavilion’s preview, a brief but loud protest led by Russian dissident disruptors Pussy Riot and the Ukrainian feminist group FEMEN might have been the most exciting thing to happen at the underwhelming and carelessly presented group show of live performance and video art.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
-
The Biennale has been the stage for numerous protests already since its May 5 preview opening, with dissident Russian artist collective Pussy Riot among the demonstrators.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
At first glance, the pairing might seem like an unconventional one, even though both artists are well known for appropriating others’ images.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
8 May 2026
-
The country’s ability to credibly threaten commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz actually hinges on multiple layers of cheap and unconventional warfare systems – drones, mines and a fleet of small attack boats, which are harder to detect than traditional naval assets.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.—
Elizabeth Sander,
San Antonio Express-News,
19 Aug. 2022
-
The document runs to more than a hundred and fifty pages, and for each question there are affirmative and dissenting studies, as well as some that indicate mixed results.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 June 2022
Adjective
-
As a performer, these characters are out-there.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
-
That’s why the wake is such an out-there sequence.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Drunkenness, like madness, protects the messengers of heretical truth from disbelief, disdain, and retaliation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
-
This heretical policy gets some support from yet another rigid convention, that of credits, which separates directors from screenwriters.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Iconoclastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/iconoclastic. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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