Synonyms of icons

icons

noun

variants also ikons

plural of icon

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

• heroes
• idols
• gods
• models
• classics
• ideals
• paragons
• nonpareils
• exemplars
• beau ideals

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

• symbols
• signs
• glyphs
• letters
• characters
• numerals
• pictographs
• ciphers
• hieroglyphs
• pictograms
• runes
• ideograms

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

• manifestations
• images
• avatars
• incarnations
• abstracts
• essences
• personifications
• models
• objectifications
• incorporations
• instantiations
• externalizations
• embodiments
• geniuses
• personifiers
• epitomes
• embodiers
• personalizations
• realizations
• paradigms
• souls
• actualizations
• exemplifications
• reincarnations
• archetypes
• concretizations
• substantiations
• patterns
• exemplars
• quintessences

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

• celebrities
• stars
• personalities
• figures
• heroes
• superstars
• dignitaries
• notables
• names
• celebs
• luminaries
• personages
• VIPs
• lights
• notabilities
• standouts
• idols
• favorites
• megastars
• somebodies
• causes célèbres
• notorieties
• monuments
• pillars
• immortals
• worthies
• eminences
• magnates
• heartthrobs
• demigods
• bigwigs
• moguls
• big shots
• barons
• nabobs
• kahunas
• panjandrums

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nobodies
• mediocrities
• lightweights
• noncelebrities
• has-beens

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

• pictures
• illustrations
• portraits
• depictions
• images
• representations
• likenesses
• drawings
• photographs
• resemblances
• views
• silhouettes
• watercolors
• caricatures
• sketches
• etchings
• diagrams
• delineations
• collages
• cartoons
• hieroglyphics
• hieroglyphs
• doodles
• pictographs
• daubs
• montages
• finger paintings
• ideograms
• ideographs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of icons

Ahead, experts share the beauty routines and grooming habits that helped make Grace Kelly one of Hollywood’s—and royalty’s—most enduring style icons. — Colleen Sullivan, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026

Celebrity stylist Nicole Chavez, who’s worked with icons like Reese Witherspoon and Kristen Bell, has curated the ultimate mix-and-match travel capsule wardrobe at Quince. — Kaitlin Marks, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026

Beatty is the daughter of Hollywood icons Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. — Dan Medeiros, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Speaking of redundancy, the keycaps include two different little brain icons—one with more wrinkles and one with fewer—used to increase or decrease the reasoning effort in your current composer panel. — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026

Was that a deliberate message in terms of not hugging or saying goodbye to the icons or the Kamu, Chuk, Haley trio? — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026

Reliable Capsule Wardrobe Basics Hailey Bieber and Jennifer Aniston are two of our favorite style icons. — Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026

When measured against the modern perimeter icons who preceded him, James beats Jordan and Bryant on points scored, Magic Johnson on assists dished and Larry Bird on titles won. — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Hakim, a genre chameleon who has performed as a sideman for Adrianne Lenker, made a record with the jazz saxophonist Roy Nathanson, and been sampled by T-Pain, has also claimed minimalist icons Steve Reich and Terry Riley as influences. — Mitch Therieau, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026