as in dissident
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
the book offers iconoclastic and irreverent portraits of some of history's most sacred cows
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Recent Examples of iconoclastic
Demna’s iconoclastic approach seems to have remained the same, to let the ideas, the world around the clothes, speak louder than the designs themselves.
—
José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 17 May 2026
When Karin carried on that group’s theatrics and iconoclastic spirit into their solo work as Fever Ray, Olof slipped out of the spotlight.
—Will Lynch, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
Ted Turner, an outspoken, iconoclastic businessman, media mogul and philanthropist whose visionary creation of a 24-hour news network changed the landscape of television, and news, forever, died at 87.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Massie’s campaign had erected a large tent there, in anticipation that a big crowd would flock to hear perhaps the most outspoken and iconoclastic Republican in Congress.
—Joshua Green, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
Phillippe, who has a multi-year deal, will star as a brilliant, iconoclastic detective who moves to Nashville from New York.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
And Marc Malkin brings us a Just for Variety interview with John Waters, the iconoclastic director who turns 80 on April 22.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
By contrast, Lillian’s counterpart and best friend is cast member and former standup comedian Gina Ross, a sarcastic, iconoclastic, in-your-face performer.
—Lee Kelly, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
In the film, middle school teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) is recruited to help save Earth because of his history as a cell biologist with some iconoclastic ideas about life in the universe.
—Tara Haelle, NPR, 12 Apr. 2026
José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 17 May 2026
When Karin carried on that group’s theatrics and iconoclastic spirit into their solo work as Fever Ray, Olof slipped out of the spotlight.
—Will Lynch, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
Ted Turner, an outspoken, iconoclastic businessman, media mogul and philanthropist whose visionary creation of a 24-hour news network changed the landscape of television, and news, forever, died at 87.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Massie’s campaign had erected a large tent there, in anticipation that a big crowd would flock to hear perhaps the most outspoken and iconoclastic Republican in Congress.
—Joshua Green, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
Phillippe, who has a multi-year deal, will star as a brilliant, iconoclastic detective who moves to Nashville from New York.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
And Marc Malkin brings us a Just for Variety interview with John Waters, the iconoclastic director who turns 80 on April 22.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
By contrast, Lillian’s counterpart and best friend is cast member and former standup comedian Gina Ross, a sarcastic, iconoclastic, in-your-face performer.
—Lee Kelly, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
In the film, middle school teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) is recruited to help save Earth because of his history as a cell biologist with some iconoclastic ideas about life in the universe.
—Tara Haelle, NPR, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for iconoclastic
Adjective
-
And major Russian language book fairs, focused on dissident literature, are becoming more common across Europe.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
The opening up of the submission process for the category has been largely applauded by the international film community, especially dissident filmmakers at odds with their governments who never stood a stand chance of representing their countries.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Not wanting to formally plan anything for his proposal, Foley decided to take an unconventional route.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
While some of the fall 2026 shoes were wardrobe classics, like a pair of black penny loafers and Lively’s pointed-toe pumps, others styles were more unconventional featuring striking shape, feather details, animal prints and more.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.—
Elizabeth Sander,
San Antonio Express-News,
19 Aug. 2022
-
The document runs to more than a hundred and fifty pages, and for each question there are affirmative and dissenting studies, as well as some that indicate mixed results.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 June 2022
Adjective
-
As a symbol of national ingenuity and know-how, the frosty specimen is kind of out-there.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
As a performer, these characters are out-there.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Drunkenness, like madness, protects the messengers of heretical truth from disbelief, disdain, and retaliation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
-
This heretical policy gets some support from yet another rigid convention, that of credits, which separates directors from screenwriters.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Iconoclastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/iconoclastic. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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