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 avatars
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 depictions
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 couple — romantically linked since 2021 — dressed as art and fashion icons Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgwick, donning wigs and costumes reminiscent of their looks from the 1965 New York Film Festival.
—
Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 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
Now, the ever-divisive candy corn is perhaps one of the most representative icons of the holiday.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
In Washington and Illinois, some videos shared on social media show federal agents making arrests in vehicles marked with Mexican objects or icons.
—NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Another piece of real estate tied to Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, the longtime lovebirds and icons of Hollywood’s Golden Age, has come to market.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2025
Halloween is a major national holiday and many Hoosiers will be turning into their favorite characters from a wide swath of IP from the year's hottest TV shows, video games, sports and pop culture icons.
—Kurtcia Collazo, IndyStar, 30 Oct. 2025
Poddar meanwhile argued that his fiercely secular friend treated Hindu icons the same as all his other subjects.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 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
Now, the ever-divisive candy corn is perhaps one of the most representative icons of the holiday.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
In Washington and Illinois, some videos shared on social media show federal agents making arrests in vehicles marked with Mexican objects or icons.
—NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Another piece of real estate tied to Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, the longtime lovebirds and icons of Hollywood’s Golden Age, has come to market.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2025
Halloween is a major national holiday and many Hoosiers will be turning into their favorite characters from a wide swath of IP from the year's hottest TV shows, video games, sports and pop culture icons.
—Kurtcia Collazo, IndyStar, 30 Oct. 2025
Poddar meanwhile argued that his fiercely secular friend treated Hindu icons the same as all his other subjects.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icons
Noun
-
Any trip back in time that begins as a quest for heroes or villains is fatally flawed from the start.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The top floor is arranged as a quiet luxury haven, with the latest arrivals from Phoebe Philo, Khaite, Carven, and Jil Sander mixing with local heroes like Uma Wang, Samuel Gui Yang, and Into The East.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His TikTok account, investigators noted, also featured anarchist symbols and links to anti-government literature.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The collection, set to launch Tuesday, will include both men's and women's apparel and accessories with NFL team symbols.—
Ian Thomas,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In an era of AI avatars and digital overload, something as simple as a handwritten note can feel like a relic of the past.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Her intervention comes amid concerns in the acting community about the creation of Norwood and how avatars like her could ultimately replace lower profile performers.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And even more reliable than a bunch of fun-size Snickers in your candy collection are the celebrities who take the occasion to go all-out for the holiday.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
In nearby Pine Plains, Browne meets us at Stissing House, a restaurant beloved by locals and celebrities alike.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
One telling sequence early on has the children studying in a classroom featuring depictions of Mohammed, Jesus, Lao Tzu, Buddha and Confucius, highlighting to what extent the Bujang Valley had been a melting pot of cultures and religions.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The program was developed through the Producers Guild’s One Guild initiative, which supports inclusive membership, employment, content, and authentic depictions.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Gretchen follows many unsavory characters on Instagram, including Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, and Ben Carson.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The characters are all different, but the contrast in personalities was similar.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The first episode, which Andy directed, features three special effects-heavy sequences of monstrous incarnations attacking children.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
-
That includes the number of incarnations of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, with a new version coming from director Guillermo del Toro.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Farther up, on Observatory Hill, tall cryptomeria trees were silhouetted in the darkening evening, and down in the valleys, lights winked on like reflections of the planets and stars appearing in the sky.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
For context, the brightest stars are around Mag +1, while a full moon is -13 and the sun is -27.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Icons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icons. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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