variants
also ikons
1
as in heroes
a person who is the object of extreme or uncritical devotion
Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and other icons of pop culture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in symbols
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
3
as in manifestations
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality)
cites Marlene Dietrich as an icon of old-time Hollywood glamour
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in celebrities
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about
a sports bar filled with photos of icons from football, basketball, and baseball
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in pictures
a two dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing
any icon of the Deity is regarded as blasphemous by adherents of that religion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of icons
No icons nestled between burning candles.
—
James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
All of these icons wrote and speculated on civil rights and the idea of Blackness resisting the world at large.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Payton, who died in 1999, remains the Chicago Bear most would likely pick if assembling a Mount Rushmore of Chicago sports icons.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Orange icons show where plows are currently located, and blue icons show the view from the driver's seat.
—Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026
The music supporting her performance includes icons Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder and Tina Turner, a deliberate choice by Chiles.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
He is also known for his bronze masterpieces erected at Dana Point’s Waterman’s Plaza depicting local surfing icons such as Hobie Alter, Phil Edwards, Joyce Hoffman, John Severson, Steve and Barrie Boehne and more.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
And cultural and political icons—people who might be enshrined in the Smithsonian—have to go.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
But the world’s most successful icons will tell you otherwise; look no further than acclaimed broadcast journalist King, and Winfrey, the billionaire media mogul.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
All of these icons wrote and speculated on civil rights and the idea of Blackness resisting the world at large.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Payton, who died in 1999, remains the Chicago Bear most would likely pick if assembling a Mount Rushmore of Chicago sports icons.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Orange icons show where plows are currently located, and blue icons show the view from the driver's seat.
—Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026
The music supporting her performance includes icons Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder and Tina Turner, a deliberate choice by Chiles.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
He is also known for his bronze masterpieces erected at Dana Point’s Waterman’s Plaza depicting local surfing icons such as Hobie Alter, Phil Edwards, Joyce Hoffman, John Severson, Steve and Barrie Boehne and more.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
And cultural and political icons—people who might be enshrined in the Smithsonian—have to go.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
But the world’s most successful icons will tell you otherwise; look no further than acclaimed broadcast journalist King, and Winfrey, the billionaire media mogul.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icons
Noun
-
The late Jim Hudson played some quarterback at Texas in the early 1960s and was one of several heroes in the New York Jets’ upset of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Denim heroes of the past and future are coming to New York—or, at least, to Soorty’s SpaceD creative hub and showroom in Manhattan.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But the underlying concept of the meme arguably predates Dawkins — humans have long used symbols to pass along ideas, as The New York Times noted in 2022.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Built between the late 1800s and early 1900s, these architectural gems survived the 1906 earthquake and flourished as symbols of endurance.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These sorcerers combat monstrous manifestations of negative human emotion, known as Curses, using a parallel energy source called Cursed Energy.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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But this common medication is increasingly being used as a means to temper the physical manifestations of anxiety, like a racing heartbeat or rapid breath.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The annual Davos gathering of political leaders, top executives and celebrities runs from January 20 to 24.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Aspen, Colorado, long synonymous with luxury skiing, has been attracting the rich and famous – including celebrities and the Royals – to its slopes for decades.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There’s been a couple of fun AI pictures.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Posters of rock bands were replaced with pictures of Serbian saints and stately World War I generals.—
Aleksandar Hemon,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On the four-minute track, Tyler talks about shopping for estates in the Hamptons, turning his idols into rivals, and trying to land a $100 million record contract.—
Matt Craig,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Back then, Hannelius probably could’ve tried to sign with Disney’s Hollywood Records like Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Hilary Duff and many more teen idols before her.—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
An Australian study of advanced brain images found significant alterations even among people who had already recovered from mild infections — a possible explanation for cognitive deficits that may persist for years.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Researchers said some images appeared to include children.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
One of hip-hop's highest charting stars of 2025, BigXthaPlug, fuses rap and country.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
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Taking its name from Don Winslow’s novella, Crime 101 stars Chris Hemsworth as Mike, a lone-wolf jewel thief operating along the Pacific Coast Highway.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Icons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icons. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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