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Saturday, April 12, 2025
Word of the Day

iconoclast

noun

A person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions; one who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration.

Advanced - Used in formal or literary contexts

Etymology

From Medieval Latin iconoclastes, from Greek eikonoklastes "image-breaker," from eikon "image" + klan "to break."

Examples in Use

  • 1.

    "The iconoclast challenged every assumption in the field."

  • 2.

    "Jazz musicians were iconoclasts who broke with classical tradition."

  • 3.

    "The iconoclastic movement literally destroyed religious artworks."

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms

rebelnonconformistdissenterradicalheretic

Related Words

maverickskepticcriticrevolutionary

Fun Fact

The Byzantine Iconoclasm (726-842 CE) saw emperors ordering the destruction of religious images, believing they promoted idolatry. Thousands of artworks were destroyed in this controversy.

Word Game Tips

Letters: 10 letters (I, C, O, N, O, C, L, A, S, T)

Scrabble Value: 14 points

Tip: The letter pattern in "ICONOCLAST" appears in many related words.

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