Published October 22, 2025

Arguments like this one are epic! Oops. Maybe I’ll rephrase that. One argument per day.

I’m tired, but what Merriam-Webster has to say about “iconic” energizes me.

As always, these choices should be made in context, considering your readership and a whole lot more. I’m not seeing people go off on rants about iconic as much as I used to, but I’m also not seeing as many people referring to Justin Bieber as iconic.

(I’m also not seeing as many people referring to Justin Bieber at all.)

There, you say, perking up. How iconic was he if no one’s talking about him anymore??

Within your rules, you have a point. Go and find everyone who called him iconic and impose a fine of your choosing. And slap Torrid with a bigger fine over one of its ads that used the word “iconic” in the voiceover.

An icon, therefore iconic?

I suppose the 2025 version of this debate would involve Taylor Swift. And this from Merriam-Webster would still be relevant: “If one is an icon, must that mean that one is also iconic? There appears to be a sentiment of late that iconic has become devalued through overuse, putting aside the matter of whether or not it is appropriate to refer to Bieber thusly.”

It’s also always the case that when people get upset about how these young people are cheapening the language, their grasp of the history of a word comes up way short.

“However,” Merriam-Webster says, “before you get too invested in the ‘Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan are iconic, and Justin Bieber is not’ line of thought, it is worth noting that this “distinctive excellence” sense of the word is not the original meaning.”

That link above is instructive. And I have a feeling it wouldn’t move the needle for people who’ve dug in on this and will not be moved. Still, I love the dictionary’s concluding sentence:

In other words, the sense of the word that many people are claiming should not be applied to figures such as Justin Bieber is not much older than… Justin Bieber.

Sending love. Protect your peace.

♥

Thank you

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I think about this every day

We have so many of them in this country, many of them in charge of things.

The fear of no longer being the majority is real because they know how minorities are treated in America. They know because they themselves treat them horribly.

Just because

“Are your opinions unconfirmed until you tell them to someone / and is this lonely night not real until it has been framed as one?”

I love Jane.

Sinatra photo in restaurant © Zhukovsky | Megapixl.com