- Today's Word
Iconoclast
[eye-KON-uh-klast]
Definition
- (noun) A person who attacks or criticizes cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, or long-established practices. It refers to someone who challenges the status quo, often in a bold or revolutionary manner.
Example
As an iconoclast in the art world, the young painter rejected traditional techniques and created controversial pieces that challenged viewers’ perceptions of what constitutes art.
Fun Fact
The term “iconoclast” originally referred to people who destroyed religious images or opposed their veneration. It comes from the Greek words “eikon” (image) and “klastes” (breaker). The original iconoclasts were active in the 8th and 9th centuries in the Byzantine Empire, destroying religious icons they considered idolatrous. Over time, the word’s meaning broadened to include anyone who challenges established beliefs or institutions, not just in a religious context but in any field of endeavor.
(noun) A form of irony in which a person pretends to refuse or show disinterest in something they actually desire
His accismus was obvious to everyone at the table — he waved off the dessert menu three times before finally ordering the chocolate cake.
Accismus comes directly from the Greek akkismos, meaning “prudery” or “affectation,” derived from Akkō, the name of a foolish woman in Greek legend known for her coy, affected behavior. It entered English as a formal rhetorical term, classified among the figures of speech used in classical oratory and persuasion.