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
The cycle can probably only be broken only by the election of iconoclastic radical politicians.
—
Simon Sebag Montefiore,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
In a way, the fact that Huston was made up of two halves — one part iconoclastic maverick, one part old school craftsman — gave him an edge his fellow septuagenarians lacked.
—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
The evening event in Portland is taking place two days before a Democratic primary that is still seen as Platner's to win, but which could provide clues as to whether enthusiasm for his iconoclastic candidacy has softened.
—
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Oscar Wilde, for example, reposes beneath a hulking deity whose iconoclastic castration, back in 1961, did little to restrain pilgrims seeking to smear red lips across his stony physique.
—
Emily Cox,
ARTnews.com,
22 May 2026
Demna’s iconoclastic approach seems to have remained the same, to let the ideas, the world around the clothes, speak louder than the designs themselves.
—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
17 May 2026
When Karin carried on that group’s theatrics and iconoclastic spirit into their solo work as Fever Ray, Olof slipped out of the spotlight.
—
Will Lynch,
Pitchfork,
11 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
Simon Sebag Montefiore,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
In a way, the fact that Huston was made up of two halves — one part iconoclastic maverick, one part old school craftsman — gave him an edge his fellow septuagenarians lacked.
—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
The evening event in Portland is taking place two days before a Democratic primary that is still seen as Platner's to win, but which could provide clues as to whether enthusiasm for his iconoclastic candidacy has softened.
—
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Oscar Wilde, for example, reposes beneath a hulking deity whose iconoclastic castration, back in 1961, did little to restrain pilgrims seeking to smear red lips across his stony physique.
—
Emily Cox,
ARTnews.com,
22 May 2026
Demna’s iconoclastic approach seems to have remained the same, to let the ideas, the world around the clothes, speak louder than the designs themselves.
—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
17 May 2026
When Karin carried on that group’s theatrics and iconoclastic spirit into their solo work as Fever Ray, Olof slipped out of the spotlight.
—
Will Lynch,
Pitchfork,
11 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for iconoclastic
Adjective
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Five long-standing Iranian dissident groups, including PJAK, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Freedom Party, had formed an alliance, Reuters also reported.
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Dislocation from tariffs, onshoring, war, oil, and supply shocks present opportunities for dissident shareholders to show laggards the way.
Adjective
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Your unconventional ideas land better when people can experience them instead of only hearing about them.
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While seemingly an unconventional choice, Sandler, Swift and Kelce have been in each other's orbit for several years.
Adjective
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Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.
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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.
Adjective
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The classic straight-leg silhouette is relaxed throughout, providing ease and movement to the style, balancing the more out-there design details.
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The ballerina sneaker trend is just the latest in a line of kooky shoe creations that range from wearable to wildly out-there.
Adjective
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In the 14th century, Bibles in English became associated with John Wycliffe, a priest who criticized corruption in the Catholic Church, and whose views on Holy Communion the church had declared heretical.
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This point can sound almost heretical in modern healthcare discourse, where prevention is frequently framed as both morally superior and financially inevitable.
Cite this Entry
“Iconoclastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/iconoclastic. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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