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
Often credited with the invention of the stiletto heel in the 1950s, Vivier brought a unique artistic flair to shoe design, influencing fashion icons and major luxury houses alike.
—
Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
The rock icons will play eight shows at the venue on October 1 and October 3, October 15 and October 17, October 22 and October 24.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
The heavy metal icons have officially announced their Life Burns Faster residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
—Holly Alvarado, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Guests will find first-of-its-kind Mystery Boxes, available only in-store, that include keychains, compact mirrors, or a sleep mask/scrunchie set in assorted patterns and icons.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
The update includes more padding around some icons and notifications, as well as sliders in the control center menu that look optimized for touch.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
The week is a one-of-a-kind power party, celebrating creatives and visionaries from every step of the process—from historical icons to those bringing their ideas to life for the very first time.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Both choreographers, Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, are icons of the scene, as is one of the show’s new performers, Leiomy, who is joining the production as the villainous Macavity.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2026
Pop icons New Kids on the Block will perform the halftime show at Gillette Stadium during the Boston Legacy FC women's soccer team's inaugural home game.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
The rock icons will play eight shows at the venue on October 1 and October 3, October 15 and October 17, October 22 and October 24.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
The heavy metal icons have officially announced their Life Burns Faster residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
—Holly Alvarado, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Guests will find first-of-its-kind Mystery Boxes, available only in-store, that include keychains, compact mirrors, or a sleep mask/scrunchie set in assorted patterns and icons.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
The update includes more padding around some icons and notifications, as well as sliders in the control center menu that look optimized for touch.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
The week is a one-of-a-kind power party, celebrating creatives and visionaries from every step of the process—from historical icons to those bringing their ideas to life for the very first time.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Both choreographers, Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, are icons of the scene, as is one of the show’s new performers, Leiomy, who is joining the production as the villainous Macavity.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2026
Pop icons New Kids on the Block will perform the halftime show at Gillette Stadium during the Boston Legacy FC women's soccer team's inaugural home game.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icons
Noun
-
Foster may have been a late addition to the roll-call of heroes who went on to deliver the first of three consecutive promotions under Hollywood ownership, having only come out of retirement in March 2023 to solve a goalkeeping crisis.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Because country star Dierks Bentley is nothing if not a solid curator of younger opening acts and heroes alike.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The bold colors and the imagery − from indigenous symbols such as the Aztec calendar, pyramids, deity Quetzalcoatl and Olmec colossal heads to depictions of the Virgin Mary, Emiliano Zapata, Cesar Chavez and migrant fieldworkers − captivated him.—
Andrés Soto,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Voluminous dresses decorated with heraldic symbols and folk scenes overflow their couches.—
Jane Wooldridge,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There are about 10 million cystic-fibrosis carriers in the United States alone, so if even a fraction of them have some degree of symptoms, that amounts to many people with manifestations of the disease.—
Roxanne Khamsi,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
-
But on Monday, the French pharma firm reported that clinical trial results showed its experimental oral drug venglustat improved the neurological manifestations of what’s known as type 3 Gaucher disease, which can include poor muscle coordination and cognitive issues.—
Andrew Joseph,
STAT,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Villa Maçakızı, popular with A-list celebrities, is one of the best established.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Larkin is soaking in every moment of this Olympic experience, from sightseeing in Milan to life in the Olympic Village to meeting celebrities such as Snoop Dogg.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Police released pictures of the suspects, a man and woman, and asked anyone with information to contact investigators at (213) 486-5947 or 1(877) 527-3247.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Travel pictures and videos generated and edited using AI are used to lure people into paying for travel packages or tours that don’t exist.—
Christopher Elliott,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Rizo, on the other hand, talks a huge game, wants to make big moves, and pulls stunts with fake immunity idols at Tribal.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
-
As was the case in Madrid, where he was nicknamed ‘Bobby’, after mentioning Manchester United and England great and 1966 World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton when talking about his idols in an interview, Endrick has settled perfectly into the Lyon dressing room.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Efforts by the Kremlin to encourage more births had fallen flat, Sonin said, because women in Russia did not feel safe and secure, with the low birth rate direct evidence of that and effectively dispelling positive images of the country and war promoted by Russia and state-run media.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Mostly Mute Monday tells a scientific story in images, visuals, and no more than 200 words.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The shining stars of the property are the Fairmont Gold Suites, which occupy the southwest corners of each guest room floor.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Gone are the days when stars seemed to go from strength to strength — when Tom Hanks, for instance, followed Philadelphia with Forrest Gump, and Forrest Gump with Apollo 13, and Apollo 13 with Toy Story.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Icons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icons. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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