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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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of icons
Marking its 43rd edition, the Northern Italian festival will gather a constellation of screen icons, paying additional tribute to Daniel Brühl, Claude Lelouch, Vincent Lindon, Vanessa Redgrave, Stefania Sandrelli, Sergio Castellitto and Aleksandr Sokurov.
—
Ben Croll, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
His team will subtly switch the profile icons and cover photos to reflect Remembrance, and the new pictures usually stay in place for about a week on the official royal family accounts.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Over the course of Lamborghini’s 60-plus years as a going concern, there have been just six models that (not counting the array of limited-run cars the company has become known for selling to the ultra-wealthy in the 21st Century) held the honor of serving as those company-defining icons.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
For their latest collaboration, the duo is bringing a contemporary twist to two traditional prep icons – the four-eyelet moc and the classic boat shoe.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
Growing up in tiny Russellville, Kentucky, just over an hour north of Nashville, Mac soaked in the country music sounds of artists including Garth Brooks and Shania Twain, but also pop icons such as Elton John.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2025
London transportation has two bona fide icons — the black cab and the red double-decker bus.
—Susanne Fowler, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Pop culture faves from throwback TV, film and music icons to more recent trending phenomena took center stage as the hosts avoided controversial choices.
—Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 31 Oct. 2025
Those horses weren’t Boise icons.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 30 Oct. 2025
Ben Croll, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
His team will subtly switch the profile icons and cover photos to reflect Remembrance, and the new pictures usually stay in place for about a week on the official royal family accounts.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Over the course of Lamborghini’s 60-plus years as a going concern, there have been just six models that (not counting the array of limited-run cars the company has become known for selling to the ultra-wealthy in the 21st Century) held the honor of serving as those company-defining icons.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
For their latest collaboration, the duo is bringing a contemporary twist to two traditional prep icons – the four-eyelet moc and the classic boat shoe.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
Growing up in tiny Russellville, Kentucky, just over an hour north of Nashville, Mac soaked in the country music sounds of artists including Garth Brooks and Shania Twain, but also pop icons such as Elton John.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2025
London transportation has two bona fide icons — the black cab and the red double-decker bus.
—Susanne Fowler, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Pop culture faves from throwback TV, film and music icons to more recent trending phenomena took center stage as the hosts avoided controversial choices.
—Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 31 Oct. 2025
Those horses weren’t Boise icons.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icons
Noun
-
But insofar as that identity was largely and intentionally anchored in whiteness, many of the real stories—just as mythic, just as legendary—went untold or ignored, simply because the heroes didn’t have the right skin color.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Our titular rookie is one of many heroes played by pop culture fave Nathan Fillion.—
Tanya Melendez,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The event featured some confusion around symbols.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Ancient petroglyphs of human figures and cryptic symbols thought to have been scrawled by the Taino, the islands’ pre-Columbian inhabitants, appeared under our flashlight beams.—
Henry Wismayer,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On the choruses, SZA’s voice floats in from the back, sharing manifestations and advice.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Gold is a color associated with luxury, luminosity, and celebration—ideal for the holidays and all your New Year manifestations.—
Andrea Carbajal,
Glamour,
13 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
As an attorney at Blank Rome, Combs represents high-net-worth individuals and celebrities like model Emily Ratajkowski and hairstylist Chris Appleton.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
-
New Zealanders are actively trying to not treat people like celebrities.—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
For the rest of her images, Kardashian modeled the see-through lace dress in various parts of the island paradise, also including some pictures that were just part of the scenery.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Like William Klein’s pictures, Roversi’s incorporate accidents, light flares, blur, even damage.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Other artists always inspire me — not just idols, but illustrators and even fashion accounts.—
Billboard Korea,
Billboard,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Those who dream of getting paid to not work have a new set of idols to look up to.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As night fell, a crowd gathered at the site of the shooting in a residential area of the city's Central neighborhood, aerial TV images showed.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Further images show Ryder enjoying a cocktail and spending time with his little sister, Rani, who Hudson welcomed in 2018 with her fiancé, Danny Fujikawa.—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But please know that those stars are given tenderly.—
Lily Osler,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
But the very nature of the connection between stars and their audience is now evolving, according to the IMDb report.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Icons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icons. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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