Iconoclast

Quick meaning: Iconoclast is a noun meaning One who opposes orthodoxy and religion; one who adheres to the doctrine of iconoclasm.

Meaning

One who opposes orthodoxy and religion; one who adheres to the doctrine of iconoclasm.

More Meanings

1. (by extension) One who attacks cherished beliefs; a maverick.
2. (historical, Christianity) One who destroys religious images or icons, especially an opponent of the Orthodox Church in the 8th and 9th centuries, or a Puritan during the European Reformation.

Example Sentences

In the days of the early Christian church, people who opposed the veneration (reverence) of images were called iconoclasts.

Relishing the role of iconoclast, he confounded the scientific establishment by dismissing the consensus about the perils of man-made climate change as “tribal group-thinking.”

After all, the fact that any discussion of the possibility is greeted with hysterical revulsion guarantees that only two types of people will take the "pro" side in public: fearless iconoclasts who do not care what anyone thinks of them; and racists.

Coming so soon after the death of David Bowie, it’s a moment to consider how deeply important iconoclasts are to the evolution of a culture. Do they change the world by trying to change it, or do they change the world through the radical act of simply being themselves?

Word Forms

• iconoclasts

Synonyms for iconoclast

Depending on context, synonyms include heretic, nonconformist, rebel.

Antonyms for iconoclast

Common opposites include iconodule, iconophile, traditionalist, conformist, devotee.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include iconoclasm, iconoclastism, idoloclast, iconoclasticism, iconolater, iconomachist.

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