Iconoclastic

/aɪˌkɑːnəˈklæstɪk/
adjective

Criticizing or attacking cherished beliefs or institutions.

He authored an iconoclastic report challenging the long-held belief that the earth was flat.
Visual representation of "iconoclastic" - Criticizing or attacking cherished beliefs or institutions.

Often appears as...

  • iconoclastic approach
  • iconoclastic critique

Usage tips

Disapproving

Academic

adjective

Breaking or destroying images, especially those set up for religious veneration.

An iconoclastic mob burst into the cathedral and began overturning statues.
Visual representation of "iconoclastic" - Breaking or destroying images, especially those set up for religious veneration.

Often appears as...

  • iconoclastic mob
  • iconoclastic acts

Usage tips

Religious

adjective

Characterized by or given to iconoclasm, or the destruction of religious images.

His iconoclastic paintings stood out in the otherwise traditional art gallery.
Visual representation of "iconoclastic" - Characterized by or given to iconoclasm, or the destruction of religious images.

Often appears as...

  • iconoclastic artworks
  • iconoclastic style

Usage tips

Artistic

adjective

Criticizing or attacking cherished beliefs or institutions.

He authored an iconoclastic report challenging the long-held belief that the earth was flat.
Visual representation of "iconoclastic" - Criticizing or attacking cherished beliefs or institutions.

Often appears as...

  • iconoclastic approach
  • iconoclastic critique

Usage tips

Disapproving

Academic

adjective

Breaking or destroying images, especially those set up for religious veneration.

An iconoclastic mob burst into the cathedral and began overturning statues.
Visual representation of "iconoclastic" - Breaking or destroying images, especially those set up for religious veneration.

Often appears as...

  • iconoclastic mob
  • iconoclastic acts

Usage tips

Religious

adjective

Characterized by or given to iconoclasm, or the destruction of religious images.

His iconoclastic paintings stood out in the otherwise traditional art gallery.
Visual representation of "iconoclastic" - Characterized by or given to iconoclasm, or the destruction of religious images.

Often appears as...

  • iconoclastic artworks
  • iconoclastic style

Usage tips

Artistic

Definition 1 of 3
Visual representation of "iconoclastic"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Challenging Norms

Used when someone questions widely accepted ideas or practices.

Illustration for Challenging Norms
His iconoclastic views on education reform stirred a heated debate.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Expect Disagreement

May evoke disagreement or shock as it challenges revered concepts.

Illustration for Expect Disagreement
Her iconoclastic stance on traditional marriage roles sparked controversy.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Academic Tone

Often used in scholarly contexts where ideas are critically examined.

Illustration for Academic Tone
The professor's iconoclastic theories were groundbreaking.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Challenging Norms

Used when someone questions widely accepted ideas or practices.

Illustration for Challenging Norms
His iconoclastic views on education reform stirred a heated debate.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Expect Disagreement

May evoke disagreement or shock as it challenges revered concepts.

Illustration for Expect Disagreement
Her iconoclastic stance on traditional marriage roles sparked controversy.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Academic Tone

Often used in scholarly contexts where ideas are critically examined.

Illustration for Academic Tone
The professor's iconoclastic theories were groundbreaking.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Challenging Norms

Used when someone questions widely accepted ideas or practices.

Illustration for Challenging Norms
His iconoclastic views on education reform stirred a heated debate.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Expect Disagreement

May evoke disagreement or shock as it challenges revered concepts.

Illustration for Expect Disagreement
Her iconoclastic stance on traditional marriage roles sparked controversy.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Academic Tone

Often used in scholarly contexts where ideas are critically examined.

Illustration for Academic Tone
The professor's iconoclastic theories were groundbreaking.
Visual representation of the word "Iconoclastic"

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Video examples

Vik Muniz: Art with...

and that's very -- the basic reason I'm talking to you here because I got shot. Well, when I started working with my own work, I decided that I shouldn't do images. You know, I became -- I took this very iconoclastic approach.

Video examples

Vik Muniz: Art with...

and that's very -- the basic reason I'm talking to you here because I got shot. Well, when I started working with my own work, I decided that I shouldn't do images. You know, I became -- I took this very iconoclastic approach.

Example 1 of 1

Quote examples

Edward Albee

American Dramatist

The avant-garde theater is fun; it is free-swinging, bold, iconoclastic, and often wildly, wildly funny. If you will approach it with childlike innocence - putting your standard responses aside, for they do not apply - if you will approach it on its own terms, I think you will be in for a liberating surprise.
Portrait of Edward Albee

Quote examples

Dan Hill

Canadian Musician

Blessed with Mom and Dad's remarkable genes, raised on big words and big, iconoclastic attitudes, Larry and I, before entering kindergarten, knew who we were, what we wanted, and how we would get there.
Portrait of Dan Hill

Quote examples

David Del Tredici

American Composer

Well, American composers are the best composers. At this time in the world, we are where the energy is. We are the most diverse, the most iconoclastic, the most maverick, and the most skillful.
Portrait of David Del Tredici

Quote examples

Matthew Shipp

American Musician

The iconoclastic mode, that specific mode of language, there is an element of it that it is punk - that is confrontational. That's just a part of the language of jazz - at a certain point.
Portrait of Matthew Shipp

Quote examples

Marcus Buckingham

British Author

American culture is CEO obsessed. We celebrate the hard-charging heroes and mythologize the iconoclastic visionaries. Those people are important.
Portrait of Marcus Buckingham

Quote examples

Larry Flynt

American Publisher

I will concede to you one thing - 'Hustler' is offensive, even to the point of being iconoclastic. That's our purpose - to be offensive.
Portrait of Larry Flynt

Quote examples

Lee Daniels

American Actor

I started casting. I cast music videos, but I kept getting fired from jobs because I was iconoclastic in my ways of casting.
Portrait of Lee Daniels

Quote examples

Garry Trudeau

American Cartoonist

When you're young, you don't feel iconoclastic - you're just kind of doing what seems natural, what moves you.
Portrait of Garry Trudeau

Quote examples

Salman Rushdie

Indian Novelist

Original thought, original artistic expression is by its very nature questioning, irreverent, iconoclastic.
Portrait of Salman Rushdie

Quote examples

Rod Lurie

Israeli Director

I really like iconoclastic casting. I really do.
Portrait of Rod Lurie

Quote examples

Edward Albee

American Dramatist

The avant-garde theater is fun; it is free-swinging, bold, iconoclastic, and often wildly, wildly funny. If you will approach it with childlike innocence - putting your standard responses aside, for they do not apply - if you will approach it on its own terms, I think you will be in for a liberating surprise.
Portrait of Edward Albee

Quote examples

Dan Hill

Canadian Musician

Blessed with Mom and Dad's remarkable genes, raised on big words and big, iconoclastic attitudes, Larry and I, before entering kindergarten, knew who we were, what we wanted, and how we would get there.
Portrait of Dan Hill

Quote examples

David Del Tredici

American Composer

Well, American composers are the best composers. At this time in the world, we are where the energy is. We are the most diverse, the most iconoclastic, the most maverick, and the most skillful.
Portrait of David Del Tredici

Quote examples

Matthew Shipp

American Musician

The iconoclastic mode, that specific mode of language, there is an element of it that it is punk - that is confrontational. That's just a part of the language of jazz - at a certain point.
Portrait of Matthew Shipp

Quote examples

Marcus Buckingham

British Author

American culture is CEO obsessed. We celebrate the hard-charging heroes and mythologize the iconoclastic visionaries. Those people are important.
Portrait of Marcus Buckingham

Quote examples

Larry Flynt

American Publisher

I will concede to you one thing - 'Hustler' is offensive, even to the point of being iconoclastic. That's our purpose - to be offensive.
Portrait of Larry Flynt

Quote examples

Lee Daniels

American Actor

I started casting. I cast music videos, but I kept getting fired from jobs because I was iconoclastic in my ways of casting.
Portrait of Lee Daniels

Quote examples

Garry Trudeau

American Cartoonist

When you're young, you don't feel iconoclastic - you're just kind of doing what seems natural, what moves you.
Portrait of Garry Trudeau

Quote examples

Salman Rushdie

Indian Novelist

Original thought, original artistic expression is by its very nature questioning, irreverent, iconoclastic.
Portrait of Salman Rushdie

Quote examples

Rod Lurie

Israeli Director

I really like iconoclastic casting. I really do.
Portrait of Rod Lurie
Example 1 of 10
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