Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day – "Iconoclast"

Date: November 30, 2025
Host: Peter Sokolowski

Episode Overview

This episode explores the word "iconoclast": its definition, historical roots, and modern uses. Host Peter Sokolowski breaks down how the meaning of iconoclast evolved from a literal "image destroyer" to a broader term for someone who challenges established beliefs or practices.

Key Discussion Points

1. Definition & Modern Usage

• Spelling: I-C-O-N-O-C-L-A-S-T
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Contemporary Definition:
  • Originally referred to "someone who destroys religious images or who opposes their veneration."
  • Now commonly means "anyone who criticizes or opposes beliefs and practices that are widely accepted."
  • Quote (Peter Sokolowski, 00:27):

    "It's now used to refer broadly to anyone who criticizes or opposes beliefs and practices that are widely accepted."

• Example in a Sentence:
  • From Axios by Carrie Shepard:

    "Chicago will be the only US city to see the 92 year old iconoclast. Yoko Ono's new show, Yoko Music of the Mind, goes back to the start of the artist's career in the mid-50s and the role she played in the creative worlds of New York, Tokyo and London." (Peter Sokolowski, 00:38)

2. Etymology & Historical Context

• Origin:
  • From Middle Greek "iconoclastes," meaning "image destroyer."
  • Quote (Peter Sokolowski, 00:57):

    "The word iconoclast comes from the Middle Greek word iconoclastes, which translates literally as image destroyer."

• Historical Use:
  • In early history, referred specifically to those who destroyed or opposed religious icons.
  • Notably in the Byzantine Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries, known as the "iconoclastic controversy."
  • Quote (Peter Sokolowski, 01:17):

    "The first iconoclasts directed their ire at religious icons, those representations of sacred individuals used as objects of veneration. The Byzantine Empire's iconoclastic controversy occurred in the 8th and 9th centuries, but the word iconoclast didn't find its way to England until the 1600s. Figurative use came later."

• Figurative Use:
  • Today, the destructive force of an iconoclast is "figurative," challenging ideas instead of images.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Modern Iconoclasts:

  "While the destruction wrought by today's iconoclasts is figurative, in modern use, an iconoclast is someone who criticizes or opposes beliefs and practices that are widely accepted."
  – Peter Sokolowski (01:09)

• Memory Anchor (Yoko Ono Example):

  "Chicago will be the only US city to see the 92 year old iconoclast. Yoko Ono's new show, Yoko Music of the Mind, goes back to the start of the artist's career..."
  – Peter Sokolowski (00:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:27 – Definition and modern usage of "iconoclast"
• 00:38 – Example sentence featuring Yoko Ono
• 00:57 – Etymology: Middle Greek origins
• 01:17 – Byzantine history and evolution of the word

Closing

The episode delivers a concise yet thorough breakdown of "iconoclast," connecting its ancient origins to modern-day usage—encouraging listeners to consider how questioning established beliefs can take many forms.