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
Horror icons like Sid Haig and Jeffrey Combs rub mocapped elbows with Mystery Science Theater 3000 alums Bill Corbett and Trace Beaulieu.
—
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Imitating soccer stars A Washington Post profile from 2024 said Marset paid $10,000 in cash to wear the number 10 jersey worn by football icons Pele, Maradona and Messi during his teams' games.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
The telecast went beyond the usual montage and sad song this year to say goodbye to these icons of cinema.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Diaz-Perry is the third bout announced for the first MMA show for Paul's burgeoning promotional company, which is showcasing combat sports icons whose fame far outstrips the current crop of relatively anonymous UFC champions.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
The front of the ice maker holds a full-color control panel with more than a dozen status icons and buttons, including power, ice making, ice dispensing, and water dispensing.
—John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 16 Mar. 2026
Dewar Rivera, of Linda Dargham Accessories, is Venezuelan and was selling handmade religious icons at the festival with his wife.
—Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
The In Memoriam section honored icons like Diane Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, and Rob Reiner, and featured a surprise performance by Barbra Streisand—her first in seven years.
—Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
The show famously helped introduce future hip-hop icons including Jay-Z, Nas, and Wu-Tang Clan.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Imitating soccer stars A Washington Post profile from 2024 said Marset paid $10,000 in cash to wear the number 10 jersey worn by football icons Pele, Maradona and Messi during his teams' games.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
The telecast went beyond the usual montage and sad song this year to say goodbye to these icons of cinema.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Diaz-Perry is the third bout announced for the first MMA show for Paul's burgeoning promotional company, which is showcasing combat sports icons whose fame far outstrips the current crop of relatively anonymous UFC champions.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
The front of the ice maker holds a full-color control panel with more than a dozen status icons and buttons, including power, ice making, ice dispensing, and water dispensing.
—John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 16 Mar. 2026
Dewar Rivera, of Linda Dargham Accessories, is Venezuelan and was selling handmade religious icons at the festival with his wife.
—Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
The In Memoriam section honored icons like Diane Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, and Rob Reiner, and featured a surprise performance by Barbra Streisand—her first in seven years.
—Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
The show famously helped introduce future hip-hop icons including Jay-Z, Nas, and Wu-Tang Clan.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icons
Noun
-
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised them as American heroes.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Since then, he’s been considered a painter’s painter — capturing jazz icons, heroes from his Mexican heritage, his wife and his own recognizable bearded face — while also staging gonzo solo shows featuring live music, DJing and a faux Mercedes that’s half instrument, half sculpture.—
Michael Slenske,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The treaty remains one of the most painful symbols of foreign domination in Iranian political memory.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Ragusa’s paintings explore opulence, yet evoke a kind of existential angst, while Brown’s work reclaims the symbols that haunt our nightmares, turning fear into empowerment.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps some paper manifestations just in time for the year of the Fire Horse.—
Xuan Juliana Wang,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The vocal and physical manifestations of the characters must become second nature.—
Sarah Sotoodeh , Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Chuck Norris is among the celebrities reported dead in 2026, part of a growing list of notable figures across entertainment, music and culture.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Few celebrities have sparked a cult following quite like the roundhouse-kicking Chuck Norris.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These girls continue coming to each of my games and supporting me, asking for my signature and pictures.—
Rick Cantu,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Moo Deng soared to stardom shortly after she was born in 2024, largely thanks to a keeper who shared adorable pictures and videos of the baby hippo on social media.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While every detail about the fictional K-pop groups’ lives was not 100 percent accurate — just ask BTS member Jungkook or any of the other K-pop idols who loved and dissected the film for fans — KPDH allowed those working behind-the-scenes in the space a moment in the spotlight.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Arguably television’s premier singing competition show, this cultural institution has given America many idols over its 24 seasons, including Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood — the latter of whom has returned as a judge.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike text or images used to train traditional artificial intelligence models, the data needed for humanoid robots cannot be sourced online; it must be generated through direct interaction with the machines.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Tanker tracking data and satellite images show that Iranian crude has flowed through the strait even as the conflict has crippled exports of crude and natural gas from nearby Persian Gulf countries.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For those of us who prefer our movie stars to recite lines of dialogue rather than left-wing talking points, the 1972 Academy Awards represented something of a high point.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
-
While Kidman and Curtis were mum about their hopes and plans for season two, their co-stars — who are not producers — were a little more forthcoming.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Icons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icons. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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