noun
- the practice of attacking or destroying religious images or icons
- the practice of challenging or attacking established beliefs, customs, or institutions
Usage: historical
Examples
- The Byzantine Empire experienced periods of iconoclasm when religious images were systematically destroyed.
- Protestant reformers engaged in iconoclasm, removing statues and paintings from churches.
- Her iconoclasm toward traditional teaching methods made her unpopular with conservative educators.
- The artist’s iconoclasm challenged conventional ideas about beauty and form.
- Political iconoclasm often emerges during times of social upheaval.
- The museum exhibit explored the history of iconoclasm in various cultures.