iconoclast

/ai'kɔnəklæst/

Thân thiện

An iconoclast questions the long-held traditions of the art world.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who attacks or criticizes cherished beliefs, ideas, or institutions: An iconoclast challenges widely accepted and traditional views, often seen as radical or heretical.
   • A destroyer of religious images or icons: Historically, an iconoclast was someone who physically destroyed icons or sacred images, especially during periods of religious reform.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • As a true iconoclast, she questioned the company's outdated policies that everyone else accepted without thought.
  • The artist was considered an iconoclast for rejecting all the established conventions of the art world.
  • During the Byzantine Iconoclasm, iconoclasts destroyed countless religious artworks.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• The term often carries a connotation of intellectual or cultural rebellion. An iconoclast is not merely a critic but someone who opposes dogma and tradition.
• It can be used in both admiring and critical contexts. It may praise someone's independent thinking or criticize them for being destructively radical.
  • He was hailed as an iconoclast for his groundbreaking scientific theories. (Admiring)
  • The conservative elders viewed the young reformer as a dangerous iconoclast. (Critical)

Variants and Related Words

• Iconoclastic (adjective): Characteristic of an iconoclast; attacking settled beliefs or institutions.
  • His iconoclastic views on education sparked a nationwide debate.
• Iconoclasm (noun): The action or spirit of attacking cherished beliefs or institutions; the historical destruction of religious icons.
  • The period was marked by intense religious iconoclasm.

Synonyms

• Heretic: A person holding opinions contrary to established doctrine (specifically religious).
• Rebel: A person who resists authority, control, or tradition.
• Nonconformist: A person whose behavior or views do not conform to prevailing ideas or practices.
• Radical: A person who advocates thorough or complete political or social reform.

Antonyms

• Traditionalist: A person who upholds or adheres to traditional ways or ideas.
• Conformist: A person who conforms to accepted behavior or established practices.
• Orthodox: Adhering to what is commonly accepted, customary, or traditional.

Idioms and Phrases

• While there are no common idioms using the word "iconoclast" itself, the concept is central to phrases like:
  • To smash idols: To challenge and reject widely revered figures or ideas. (This is a direct metaphorical link to the original meaning of iconoclast).
  • A voice in the wilderness: A person who proposes ideas that are ignored or rejected by the majority, which can describe an iconoclast's early struggle.

Học thuật

Noun

1. someone who attacks cherished ideas or traditional institutions
2. a destroyer of images used in religious worship

Từ đồng nghĩa

• image breaker