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
The murder case against Nick Reiner — who is charged with killing his parents, beloved Hollywood icons Rob and Michele Reiner — will not proceed until September.
—
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The room, packed with about 100 people, was filled with members of the publishing industry and icons of New York City’s cultural and literary circles.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Most of the icons here are tabs for full-screen views of different types of content.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
The two Japanese women’s wrestling icons will now do battle at the next major event.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
This autumn, though, the feminist alt-rock icons are finally giving us one hell of a sonic supernova.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Cue up the greatest hits Mainstream audiences don’t necessarily want a warts-and-all story about their music icons.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
That lineage comes through in their ungovernable guitar noodling, inspired by underground icons NRBQ and Bottle Rockets, and a boisterous energy befitting of drunken basement shows.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
The docu-film features appearances from collaborators, cultural icons, and those closest to him.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The room, packed with about 100 people, was filled with members of the publishing industry and icons of New York City’s cultural and literary circles.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Most of the icons here are tabs for full-screen views of different types of content.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
The two Japanese women’s wrestling icons will now do battle at the next major event.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
This autumn, though, the feminist alt-rock icons are finally giving us one hell of a sonic supernova.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Cue up the greatest hits Mainstream audiences don’t necessarily want a warts-and-all story about their music icons.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
That lineage comes through in their ungovernable guitar noodling, inspired by underground icons NRBQ and Bottle Rockets, and a boisterous energy befitting of drunken basement shows.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
The docu-film features appearances from collaborators, cultural icons, and those closest to him.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icons
Noun
-
Consider visiting one of those memorials or attending one of the many ceremonies that are held in April and May to remember and honor those heroes.—
Kenneth D. Robinson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
-
There are heroes in schools who don’t show up in assemblies, whose pictures don’t make it to the Wall of Fame in the front office, and they rarely get mentioned in speeches.—
Mark Glende,
Twin Cities,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Yet, once the pilgrimage concludes, these symbols often face a linear end, contributing to a mounting global crisis of textile waste.—
FMG Studios,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
-
Another way to assess age and origin is through maker’s marks—symbols, numbers, or letters stamped on an item to identify its manufacturer.—
Nicole Anderson,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
This entry further defines community radio and then discusses its origins and its manifestations throughout the world.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
-
These multiple manifestations of the same background body can take circular arrangements, or Einstein Rings, and can also appear as rarer Einstein Crosses.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Joining them this time around is a succession of celebrities making chic cameos — some significant, some all too brief.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
But there is plenty of action happening on the Met Gala red carpet—where celebrities make bold fashion statements, sometimes wildly interpreting that year’s dress code and other times bringing along a prop.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Participants will board a 4-wheel-drive for a bumpy 13-mile tour with frequent stops for pictures, sketches and questions.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The following slide proved that the bribe worked, as Emma adorably smiled in her school pictures, and the results were perfection.—
Georgia Slater,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Expect to see surgeonfish, blue tang, moorish idols, plus whale shark and manta rays in the May-September rainy season.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
-
No wonder Trump, who wants to erect idols to himself like a Canaanite king, is so upset.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Content created by users has come to account for or shape much of the information, images, and videos that users encounter online, whether via social media or other sites.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
On Sunday, April 26, Kardashian, 41, shared a carousel of sweet images on Instagram featuring snaps of her with her daughter True, 8, and son Tatum, 3, at Disneyland.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, the Vega system has scant evidence for any planets at all, leading many to suspect that the conventional planet formation story doesn’t work for rapidly rotating stars.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Met also provides a dramatic backdrop for rising style stars to break out.—
Erika Harwood,
Vanity Fair,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Icons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icons. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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