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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of icons
The twenty-four-hour temperature forecast is shown as a fluctuating black line tagged with icons denoting the weather every three hours.
—
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Through the meteoric rise of the Fania All‑Stars, the label elevated such musical icons as Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Joe Bataan and Rubén Blades.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
The Senate's version of the bill would rely on QR codes instead of adding icons directly to menus, a difference that supporters say could make the information harder to access.
—Nicky Zizaza, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
These pictures had the sacred quality of religious icons.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Ethan began learning to express himself through a combination of short spoken phrases and pointing to icons on a tablet.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
One flirts and drinks and dallies and dances; the other is part child, part monk, his mantel packed with icons and crucifixes, his inner landscape a kind of mental Sagrada Família — a weird and extraordinary edifice constructed around the rigors and promises of Christianity.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
On the desktop itself, Windows 95 — released in 1995 — introduced the Start menu, Taskbar, and desktop icons, fundamentals of the computing experience that persist in some form to this day.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2026
The telecast went beyond the usual montage and sad song this year to say goodbye to these icons of cinema.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Through the meteoric rise of the Fania All‑Stars, the label elevated such musical icons as Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Joe Bataan and Rubén Blades.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
The Senate's version of the bill would rely on QR codes instead of adding icons directly to menus, a difference that supporters say could make the information harder to access.
—Nicky Zizaza, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
These pictures had the sacred quality of religious icons.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Ethan began learning to express himself through a combination of short spoken phrases and pointing to icons on a tablet.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
One flirts and drinks and dallies and dances; the other is part child, part monk, his mantel packed with icons and crucifixes, his inner landscape a kind of mental Sagrada Família — a weird and extraordinary edifice constructed around the rigors and promises of Christianity.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
On the desktop itself, Windows 95 — released in 1995 — introduced the Start menu, Taskbar, and desktop icons, fundamentals of the computing experience that persist in some form to this day.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2026
The telecast went beyond the usual montage and sad song this year to say goodbye to these icons of cinema.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icons
Noun
-
Reconcile the budget, be heroes to the people and go home proudly having stood up for public lands.—
Joe Murphy,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Goliath to spotlight the heroes of the environmental justice movement – everyday people standing up to enormous odds.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Here and in works throughout the show, symbols and inscriptions refer both to gift giver and gift recipient, bridging the distance between Europe and the Holy Land.—
Sarah Kozlowski,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Inaccurate/sloppy copies of the state seal and other official symbols.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps some paper manifestations just in time for the year of the Fire Horse.—
Xuan Juliana Wang,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The vocal and physical manifestations of the characters must become second nature.—
Sarah Sotoodeh , Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Chuck Norris is among the celebrities reported dead in 2026, part of a growing list of notable figures across entertainment, music and culture.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Few celebrities have sparked a cult following quite like the roundhouse-kicking Chuck Norris.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These girls continue coming to each of my games and supporting me, asking for my signature and pictures.—
Rick Cantu,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Moo Deng soared to stardom shortly after she was born in 2024, largely thanks to a keeper who shared adorable pictures and videos of the baby hippo on social media.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Tickets that go for $9,000 each; fans who plant trees so their idols can see them from their plane; devotees who listen for up to 11 hours a day.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Now, there are three idols active.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Federal authorities allege in an indictment that the images portrayed of dogs raised and offered for sale at the Giant German Shepherd Ranch in Hopkins County were a disguise for a place where, instead, cruelty and neglect were rampant.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The observatory later shared images from its SkyCam and HamCam2 cameras, showing the meteor as a greenish streak moving from north to south.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For those of us who prefer our movie stars to recite lines of dialogue rather than left-wing talking points, the 1972 Academy Awards represented something of a high point.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
-
While Kidman and Curtis were mum about their hopes and plans for season two, their co-stars — who are not producers — were a little more forthcoming.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Icons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icons. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
