Is there an alternative to the word ‘iconic’? I began to tire of this word long ago, when it felt like it was being used indiscriminately, and keep looking for other options.

An icon is something or somebody that is venerated or uncritically admired, says the Chambers dictionary on my desk at work. I believe it has to be of a certain vintage before it can classify as iconic. But then, for something that is uncritically admired who is to decide what is iconic and what is not? It’s subjective.

This post, though, does not aim to discuss what is iconic and is not. It’s to discover what its synonyms are so that writing and reading do not become repetitive.

So far, I have these, though each one comes with its own nuances and the usage depends on the entity you seek to describe as iconic.

Celebrated

Venerated

Pre-eminent

Renowned

Well-known

Revered

Distinguished

Illustrious

Noted

Arresting

Esteemed

Applauded

Influential

Grand

Eminent

I’m sure there are people, brands and other entities that can be described with a number of these adjectives. The Harley Davidson, for one. It’s celebrated, venerated, renowned, grand. Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn, Alfred Hitchcock, to name others. They are pre-eminent, celebrated, revered, esteemed, eminent, illustrious and applauded.

Of late, I’ve been noticing something called iCone, an ice-cream cone. I’m sure it aims to be iconic, just like other brands that have emulated this naming tactic in the hope of repeating the success of the electronic iDevices, and thinks having ‘icon’ as part of its name is a propitious beginning.

What alternatives to ‘iconic’ would you suggest?