- 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.
(adjective) Relating to or characterized by excessive devotion to sensual pleasure and luxury.
The retreat was unapologetically sybaritic — every surface chosen for how it felt, every meal an event, every hour structured around pleasure so deliberately it became its own kind of discipline.