iconoclastic
Americanadjective
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attacking or ignoring cherished beliefs and long-held traditions, etc., as being based on error, superstition, or lack of creativity.
an iconoclastic architect whose buildings are like monumental sculptures.
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breaking or destroying images, especially those set up for religious veneration.
Other Word Forms
- iconoclastically adverb
- noniconoclastic adjective
- noniconoclastically adverb
- uniconoclastic adjective
- uniconoclastically adverb
Etymology
Origin of iconoclastic
First recorded in 1640–45; iconoclast + -ic
Explanation
The word iconoclastic is an adjective referring to a breaking of established rules or destruction of accepted beliefs. It might refer to an artist with an unorthodox style, or an iconoclastic attack, either physical or verbal, on a religious doctrine or image. Consider the Greek word eikōn, or "image," coupled with -klastēs, "one who breaks," and you get a good image of someone who is iconoclastic. An iconoclastic approach to religion involves tearing down the icons representing the church. While this was once done physically, through riots and mayhem, today’s iconoclasts usually prefer using words. Not all iconoclasts are destructive, however. An iconoclastic approach to art and music has given rise to the development of new genres and styles through breaking the rules.
Vocabulary lists containing iconoclastic
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for February 12–February 18, 2022
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Challenge, List 9
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lyons describes Skyhorse as a free-speech publishing house that offers iconoclastic works that other companies won’t touch.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
Reality TV loves to generate iconoclastic figures like Paul, turning real people and their issues into characters and storylines.
From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026
Over the weekend, Institutional Shareholder Services, a firm that advises investors how to vote their shares, recommended against approving the 2025 pay award that Tesla’s board has proposed for its iconoclastic CEO.
From Barron's • Oct. 19, 2025
It’s no coincidence iconoclastic artists like Precious Okoyomon and Sylvie Fleury have been known to wear Loewe.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2025
“I almost think the better the idea, and the more iconoclastic the investor, the more likely you will get screamed at by investors,” he said.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
