Advertisement
English Lexicon

Iconoclast

/aɪˈkɒn.ə.klæst/
nounCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #25400 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A person who attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, or established dogmas.

    "As an outspoken iconoclast in the art world, she frequently challenged the commercialized gallery system with her provocative guerilla installations."
  2. 2

    Historical term for a destroyer of religious images or monuments, especially during the Byzantine iconoclastic controversies.

    "During the reformation period, zealous iconoclasts entered the cathedral to smash the stained glass windows and statues."
Advertisement

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the medieval Greek eikonomakhos, combining eikon (image, icon) and klastes (breaker), from klaein (to break). Originally referring to those who rejected religious images in the Byzantine Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries, the term evolved in modern usage to metaphorically describe anyone who attacks cherished beliefs, institutions, or traditions.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Iconoclast"?

Advertisement

10 Global Lexicons: How "Iconoclast" is said worldwide

Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration

Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Iconoclast"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Iconoclast" Synonym Map
Advertisement