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
The entire collection was designed by Michael Schmidt, a wardrobe, jewelry and interior designer who has styled icons like Madonna, Cher and Hailey Bieber.
—
Sara Belcher,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
The new production will follow Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo from their comic book origins to becoming global pop culture icons, battling familiar villains along the way.
—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
24 June 2026
The main cast is a veritable potpourri of icons.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
24 June 2026
Opening select dates will be Nashville egg punk icons Snõõper as well as the Raleigh rockers Truth Club.
—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
23 June 2026
Clive Davis, the legendary music producer of industry icons from Janis Joplin and Whitney Houston to Billy Joel and Santana, has died.
—
Jason Kravarik,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
One of the laptops ran a digital map; icons, shaped like inverted teardrops, marked addresses that lenders were paying Pitman’s company to pay Pitman to check, for collateral.
—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Twice during the game at the Lincoln Financial Field, the Brazil fans unfurled a fluttering banner celebrating five icons of five World Cup-winning teams; Didi, Garrincha, Pele, Romario and Ronaldo.
—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Getty Images The Toronto Blue Jays have featured plenty of outspoken stars over the years, from Hall of Fame-caliber pitchers to franchise icons willing to share strong opinions on issues beyond the field.
—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Sara Belcher,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
The new production will follow Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo from their comic book origins to becoming global pop culture icons, battling familiar villains along the way.
—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
24 June 2026
The main cast is a veritable potpourri of icons.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
24 June 2026
Opening select dates will be Nashville egg punk icons Snõõper as well as the Raleigh rockers Truth Club.
—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
23 June 2026
Clive Davis, the legendary music producer of industry icons from Janis Joplin and Whitney Houston to Billy Joel and Santana, has died.
—
Jason Kravarik,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
One of the laptops ran a digital map; icons, shaped like inverted teardrops, marked addresses that lenders were paying Pitman’s company to pay Pitman to check, for collateral.
—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Twice during the game at the Lincoln Financial Field, the Brazil fans unfurled a fluttering banner celebrating five icons of five World Cup-winning teams; Didi, Garrincha, Pele, Romario and Ronaldo.
—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Getty Images The Toronto Blue Jays have featured plenty of outspoken stars over the years, from Hall of Fame-caliber pitchers to franchise icons willing to share strong opinions on issues beyond the field.
—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icons
Noun
-
As the inscription had been damaged, researchers couldn’t decipher whether this tablet had cursed four slaves or whether four slaves had cried out to the Egyptian gods and demi-heroes, who knows?
-
Look, Letterman is one of my all-time comedy heroes.
Noun
-
Below three magical symbols, the author wrote the names of four enslaved people.
-
What used to be a family-friendly environment is now filled with drag queens, definitive political and ideological statements about sexuality, and mascots decked out in the colors and symbols of that movement.
Noun
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The Cane Ridge Revival would become an epochal moment in American religious history, one of the most visible manifestations of what historians would later refer to as the Second Great Awakening.
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Meanwhile, here are some other Bay Area manifestations of the Miles/Coltrane centennial.
Noun
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There were 3,000 people on the plaza at the June 18 Obama Presidential Center grand opening ceremony, with almost too many celebrities to count.
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While celebrities tend to promote their upcoming projects, at its core, the show is a lighthearted conversation that has inspired viral memes and GIFs.
Noun
-
Area law enforcement officials have previously released pictures of him.
-
But some users find clever ways to sidestep those controls, by disguising sensitive requests as role-playing games, poems or pictures, with many swapping tips and ideas online.
Noun
-
No longer can basketball executives plan for a distant future while waiting on their teen idols to grow up.
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Yet when the lights come up and the idols of her youth begin to sing, something is unlocked.
Noun
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In February, the FBI released images showing an armed person at Nancy Guthrie's front door tampering with the camera prior to her disappearance, but the suspect in the images has not been identified.
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One series displayed different images depending on the viewer’s position relative to the piece.
Noun
-
Keith hailed from Tennessee and worked with music’s biggest stars, including Beyoncé and Drake.
-
Angel Reese with Reebok, Breanna Stewart with Puma, Sabrina Ionescu with Nike and A’ja Wilson with Nike are the other active WNBA stars with signature sneakers.
Cite this Entry
“Icons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icons. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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