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
Reflecting on Black style icons, Osuji believes one person in particular embodies Zena Ziora.
—
Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
It will be held primarily at the historic San Siro Stadium in Milan, featuring performances by icons like Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli, as well as traditional elements like the Parade of Nations and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Feb. 2026
The women, who both carried the Princess of Wales title during their respective royal lives, are global style icons.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
Overall, 13 of the Seahawks’ 22 starters began their careers in Seattle (the below graphic include team icons for the players’ first NFL team).
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
In some ways, the rock icons aren’t surprised by the success, as members had very lofty goals from the first day.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Steve Young, while appearing with DeBartolo and other team icons at Tuesday’s premiere, envisions Shanahan as playing a pivotal role in the 49ers’ next stage, if his offense evolves faster than others.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
While no collaboration has been formally announced, Hilton’s comments have already reignited fan speculation about a potential studio pairing between two of pop culture’s most enduring icons.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2026
In those brownstones, the icons scribbled about notepads and surrendered those eternal drafts to thin paper zines.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
It will be held primarily at the historic San Siro Stadium in Milan, featuring performances by icons like Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli, as well as traditional elements like the Parade of Nations and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Feb. 2026
The women, who both carried the Princess of Wales title during their respective royal lives, are global style icons.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
Overall, 13 of the Seahawks’ 22 starters began their careers in Seattle (the below graphic include team icons for the players’ first NFL team).
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
In some ways, the rock icons aren’t surprised by the success, as members had very lofty goals from the first day.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Steve Young, while appearing with DeBartolo and other team icons at Tuesday’s premiere, envisions Shanahan as playing a pivotal role in the 49ers’ next stage, if his offense evolves faster than others.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
While no collaboration has been formally announced, Hilton’s comments have already reignited fan speculation about a potential studio pairing between two of pop culture’s most enduring icons.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2026
In those brownstones, the icons scribbled about notepads and surrendered those eternal drafts to thin paper zines.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icons
Noun
-
Indie Sparks writes strong heroines whose knees go weak for cinnamon roll heroes with dirty mouths and the skills to walk the talk.—
Meg Miller,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
-
That's when Stockton was officially recognized as the hometown and birthplace of these four hometown heroes.—
Carmela Karcher,
CBS News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
During the administration of former strongman Nicolás Maduro, El Helicoide became one of the most emblematic symbols of political repression in Venezuela.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Organizational psychologists and anthropologists have long studied the importance of symbols and ritual in culture and the workplace.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
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Macaulay Culkin is one of the first celebrities to pay tribute to Catherine O'Hara following her death on Friday.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Bud Light’s Allen says no celebrities were harmed in the making of this commercial.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Deuxmoi showed pictures of McRae and Hughes dining at Anton’s in the West Village the month prior.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In these 2-foot-square pictures, long-haired nude female figures in close Edenic companionship with wild beasts poke their heads out from behind lush tropical foliage, and stare, unsettlingly, straight outward.—
Benjamin Lima,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Because the sort of celebrity documentary that Melania has been made in the image of aren’t made for general audiences — they’re made for fans who treat the experience of viewing them as another act of devotion to their idols.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
-
There's also a hunt for special idols across the country.—
Steve Maugeri,
CBS News,
30 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
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Researchers said some images appeared to include children.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The lowest-mass stars appear small, faint, red, and cool; the higher mass stars appear large, bright, blue, and hot.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Tokyo — In scenes normally reserved for J-pop stars, thousands of fans huddle against the cold outside a small train station on the outskirts of Tokyo, their phones held high for a glimpse of Japan’s latest obsession.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Icons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icons. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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