variants also ikon
Definition of iconnext
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as in hero
a person who is the object of extreme or uncritical devotion Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and other icons of pop culture

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2
as in symbol
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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of icon Host and creator Becca Auerbach’s involved a run in with rock icon David Lee Roth. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026 The movie was a box office hit with $94 million worldwide and kickstarted McConaughey’s tenure as a romantic comedy icon. Zack Sharf, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026 The man known as El Guëro to his family, friends and community is a Chicago food icon. Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 For stars including Teyana Taylor, Dove Cameron, JADE and Megan Moroney, the opportunity to try on the heels of musical icons and heroes Janet Jackson, Cher, Madonna and Dolly Parton (respectively) was too fun to miss. Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for icon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icon
Noun
  • Cecil The hero of Final Fantasy IV, Cecil is an expert swordsman.
    Kara Nesvig, Parents, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Devereaux receives a hero’s welcome back home, but his irrational and violent behavior threatens his new livelihood, as does the knowledge of his cowardice held by Capt.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Now it had been relegated again to a leftist cause, a symbol of anti-imperial resistance for some and the face of communism’s failings for others.
    Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Houseplant’s new Italian Collection includes pieces made and hand-painted in Deruta, all boasting that near-ubiquitous symbol of good luck and protection found on so many Italian pottery pieces—the rooster.
    Rachel Wallace, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The pop star’s headlining set was a two-year-old manifestation come to life.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Tickets for the event, which includes yoga, manifestation and sound healing, start at 2,699 Australian dollars ($1,912) per person.
    Reuters, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Thanks to its high altitude and exceptionally dark skies, this location offers stunning views of the Milky Way and countless stars.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 21 Apr. 2026
  • What the stars have to do with love is a tricky question.
    New York Times, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There are also other artists, like Patricia Frischer, who has been doing a series of images about the #MeToo movement and women’s rights, which are also under attack at the moment.
    Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
  • In conflict, online images and videos have become essential to countering misinformation and propaganda.
    Jane Lytvynenko, NBC news, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Cecilio Waterman celebrated his stoppage-time winner by running to Thierry Henry, who was there as a TV pundit, hugging him and telling him Henry was his idol.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The movie is a surreal story about the life of a hero (voiced by professional rapper Ace Cool) who, in his youth, becomes a J-pop idol.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Back then, the connection aimed to paint Zayn as a similarly paradigm-shifting artist—a pop icon, sure, but also an avatar of so many sociocultural dynamics.
    Sameer Rao, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
  • During early edits of the season, Lee used Mumford’s headshot as the avatar whenever their WhatsApp messages appeared, and paparazzi shots of the real-life couple flashed onscreen when the character googled their fling.
    Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Icon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icon. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

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