Definition

Proper noun 1. A figure from Greek mythology: Icarus is the son of Daedalus. He famously escaped from Crete using wings made of feathers and wax constructed by his father. Disregarding his father's warnings, he flew too close to the sun, causing the wax to melt. He subsequently fell into the Aegean Sea and drowned.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The myth of Icarus is a classic tale about the dangers of hubris.
  • Artists often depict Icarus falling from the sky after his wings melted.

Advanced Usage

• "Icarus complex": A psychological term describing a person's tendency to be overly ambitious, leading to potentially self-destructive failure, analogous to the myth.
  • His reckless investment strategy revealed a classic Icarus complex.
• Used metaphorically to describe a person or endeavor that fails due to overreaching ambition or a lack of caution.
  • The company's rapid expansion was an Icarus-like flight that ended in bankruptcy.

Variants and Related Words

• Icarian (adjective): Pertaining to or resembling Icarus or his flight; ambitiously daring.
  • Their Icarian attempt to revolutionize the industry was admired but ultimately failed.

Synonyms

• None as a proper noun. Metaphorically, one might use terms like overreacher or high-flier (in a negative sense).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Fly too close to the sun": To fail or be destroyed because of excessive ambition, pride, or risk-taking. This idiom is directly derived from the myth of Icarus.
  • The politician flew too close to the sun with his corrupt schemes and was finally exposed.

Noun

1. (Greek mythology) son of Daedalus; while escaping from Crete with his father (using the wings Daedalus had made) he flew too close to the sun and the wax melted and he fell into the Aegean and drowned