icon

noun

ˈī-ˌkän How to pronounce icon (audio)
variants also ikon
Definition of iconnext
1
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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Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in avatar
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) cites Marlene Dietrich as an icon of old-time Hollywood glamour

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4
as in star
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about a sports bar filled with photos of icons from football, basketball, and baseball

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in image
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 icon Music icon Selena Quintanilla-Pérez's killer, Yolanda Saldívar, was denied parole by Texas' parole board Thursday. — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Kirk Gibson speaks Our Jack Harris talked to Dodgers icon Kirk Gibson recently about Freddie Freeman‘s grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series. — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025 There are icons of Danish Modernism, American Arts and Crafts, and the Memphis movement. — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 26 Mar. 2025 Marlee Matlin struggled to balance professional success with the pressures of being an icon for the deaf community. — Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for icon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icon
  1. hero
  2. symbol
  3. avatar
  4. star
  5. image
  6. character
  7. incarnation
  8. celebrity
Noun
  • Sinise called the museum magnificent — and something love overdue to recognize American heroes.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Yash’s transformation into a larger-than-life action hero propelled the films to unprecedented box-office success, breaking language barriers.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of hero
Noun
  • Experts have long debated the meaning of the 4-inch sculpture, though it is widely regarded to have been seen as a symbol of attractiveness and fertility.
    — Rosa Rahimi, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
  • What To Know The backlash against Musk and DOGE has already prompted national Democrats to incorporate the Tesla CEO into their broader campaign messaging, casting him as a symbol of Trumpian overreach.
    — Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of symbol
Noun
  • What does this mean for Gen Alpha? Their early emotional bonds are forming through avatars and virtual hangouts.
    — Cathy Hackl, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Out of this wreckage, two months later, steps you, a silent avatar with no memory.
    — Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of avatar
Noun
  • Series stars Erin Krakow, Kevin McGarry, Jack Wagner, Chris McNally, Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith are all set to return.
    — Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Motocross star Haiden Deegan was arrested for street racing and stunt driving in Florida.
    — Toria Sheffield, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of star
Noun
  • The cost of maintaining that image became more difficult over time.
    — Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2025
  • What Happens Next? New Model Y Launch edition available ‘today’ – base models coming soon More 2026 Model Y inventory had arrived on the North Hollywood lot (see image above) since my last visit to the store.
    — Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of image
Noun
  • Over time, though, the character began to resemble Warner Bros. Discovery president David Zaslav, who famously sought to permanently shelve projects like Batgirl and Coyote vs. Acme for tax write-offs.
    — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Yes, one of the teenaged plane crash survivors and Yellowjackets team members who has become a more prominent character in the past timeline over the course of season 3.
    — Stacy Lambe, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of character
Noun
  • Like the latest incarnation of Snow White, Order of the Seven was set to be made in London and that shines a spotlight on the finances of the production.
    — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Consider the pediatric incarnations of old familiar diagnoses—bronchitis, pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, RSV.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of incarnation
Noun
  • Tesla Takedown, in the U.S. and elsewhere, was organized by a group that included disillusioned owners of the automaker’s vehicles, celebrities such as actor John Cusack and at least one Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas.
    — Michael Liedtke, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
  • And Levi’s is a trusted brand that celebrities wear.
    — Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of celebrity

Browse Nearby Words

icky
icon
iconoclasm
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Cite this Entry

“Icon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icon. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on icon

Nglish: Translation of icon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about icon

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