variants also ikon
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
4
5

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 Many looked at style icons of the past, ranging from Edith Bouvier Beale to Bianca Jagger and Anouk Aimée. WWD, 3 Mar. 2025 This hotel celebrates female empowerment through mischievous art installations and cheeky design details that honor cultural and historical female icons, including an extraordinary mural of the late, great Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Jessie Beck, AFAR Media, 3 Mar. 2025 During his lifetime, Cobain spearheaded an international phenomenon, becoming not only the most visible representative of Seattle’s grunge scene but also an icon for a whole generation of disenfranchised youth. Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025 Wave farewell to an American maritime icon The storied ocean liner SS United States left its Philadelphia pier on Wednesday to embark on its final mission … underwater. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for icon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icon
Noun
  • Hampton portrays unconventional hero Gabi Mosely in Found, a one-time kidnapping victim turned public relations specialist who now runs a firm dedicated to finding missing people.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Jason Statham $24 million ($25 million gross) Statham, 57, has proven to be box office Teflon in recent years, stringing together a series of modest hits playing regular-guy action heroes, including 2024’s The Beekeeper.
    Matt Craig, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Manufacturing has become a unifying force, a symbol of patriotism, pride, and the promise of a better, more prosperous future.
    Ethan Karp, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The staffing crisis at Yosemite drew public attention on Saturday when an upside-down American flag – a symbol of distress – was unfurled at the park’s Horsetail Fall.
    Rafael Romo, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Outside of the playable avatars, there’s also a litany of supporting characters that each have their own individual fantasy vibe.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
  • During that period, J.F. confided in a fictional psychologist, whose avatar showed a sympathetic, middle-aged blond woman perched on a couch in an airy office, according to the lawsuit.
    Ellen Barry, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The stars came out to shine for the Trojans as Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins each scored 22 points in the victory.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The stars will be out this Sunday at the 97th Academy Awards — and at its iconic after-party, the Oscars Governors Ball.
    Jack Smart, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Aerial images captured by drones are loaded onto maps made with geographic information system (GIS) technology.
    Ryan Lanclos, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • While Doherty's image wasn't included in the broadcast, she is included in the official In Memoriam database on The Academy's website.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Taran Noah Smith, the actor who played Mark, the youngest son of Tim (Tim Allen) and Jill (Patricia Richardson) on the sitcom, recently explained the surprising origins of his character turning goth seemingly out of nowhere.
    Lauren Huff, EW.com, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Throughout his career, Tazewell has told the stories of Black and Latino characters through clothing.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Nelson’s latest presents an equally intellectual history of funk music, from its West African, soul, and jazz roots to its later incarnations in disco, new wave, and hip-hop.
    Erik Morse, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The Presley story here is a lot more interesting, and Spacey mostly seems to be doing an impersonation rather than an incarnation.
    Will Leitch, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • In recent months celebrities have been wearing archival Cavalli for events.
    Marissa Muller, WWD, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Rose, 41, posted a photo of her look on Instagram where fans reacted, many comparing her to other celebrities after not recognizing her on first glance.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Icon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icon. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on icon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!