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
There’s an iconoclastic aspect to her as well, suggesting a challenge to the gods and nature in figuration that is ultimately rejected.
—
Theo Belci, Artforum, 27 Feb. 2026
The film’s official synopsis is a quote attributed to the iconoclastic filmmaker.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
The Bad Plus, the iconoclastic jazz group known for its genre-eschewing approach, will disband in 2026, closing a 26-year chapter of experimentation.
—Marc Schneider, Billboard, 13 Jan. 2026
In this autofictional novel, Huisman describes growing up in Paris with her beautiful, bipolar mother and iconoclastic, flamboyant father.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
The film Carnival Night, released that same year, captured the iconoclastic mood.
—Andrew Fedorov, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
Her Agnes is an iconoclastic, witchy woman of the woods, drawn passionately to Paul Mescal’s William Shakespeare but reluctant to give herself over to be a wife and mother.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Laurie Orlando, who has supervised talent recruitment and strategy at CBS News for nearly a decade, is leaving the Paramount Skydance operation — the latest of the news division’s senior executives to exit as the parent company overhauls its operations under an iconoclastic new editor in chief.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
Diane Keaton, the iconoclastic and left-of-center Oscar-winning film and fashion icon, has died, according to a family spokesperson who shared the news with People magazine.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Oct. 2025
Theo Belci, Artforum, 27 Feb. 2026
The film’s official synopsis is a quote attributed to the iconoclastic filmmaker.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
The Bad Plus, the iconoclastic jazz group known for its genre-eschewing approach, will disband in 2026, closing a 26-year chapter of experimentation.
—Marc Schneider, Billboard, 13 Jan. 2026
In this autofictional novel, Huisman describes growing up in Paris with her beautiful, bipolar mother and iconoclastic, flamboyant father.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
The film Carnival Night, released that same year, captured the iconoclastic mood.
—Andrew Fedorov, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
Her Agnes is an iconoclastic, witchy woman of the woods, drawn passionately to Paul Mescal’s William Shakespeare but reluctant to give herself over to be a wife and mother.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Laurie Orlando, who has supervised talent recruitment and strategy at CBS News for nearly a decade, is leaving the Paramount Skydance operation — the latest of the news division’s senior executives to exit as the parent company overhauls its operations under an iconoclastic new editor in chief.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
Diane Keaton, the iconoclastic and left-of-center Oscar-winning film and fashion icon, has died, according to a family spokesperson who shared the news with People magazine.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for iconoclastic
Adjective
-
Soon, the childhood acquaintances are embarking on a surveillance caper, eavesdropping on a dissident pop star (Rebecca Naomi Jones).—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In the weeks before that dinner, dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and the Times and other outlets reported that world leaders had come to suspect the crown prince in the murder.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The situation was finally resolved when a wildlife response team used an unconventional method, crawling under the house and firing paintballs filled with vegetable oil to drive the bear out.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
This unconventional but sweet design was the perfect reference to Margaret’s free spirit.—
Jessica Gibbs,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 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
-
The show was always an out-there concept, even for HBO.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The planet is the setting for an unlikely mix of sci-fi, magic, and fantasy, populated by a bizarre assortment of characters whose origins were usually determined by the out-there whims of toymakers — there really is no other way to explain Snout Spout.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
3 Mar. 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 6 Apr. 2026.
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