Icarian
adjective /ɪˈkɛərɪən/ — Of reckless ambition that dares too high and suffers for it.
Definition
Relating to the story of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun on wax wings — characterised by reckless ambition, the refusal to heed warnings, and a fall that is both catastrophic and, somehow, beautiful.
Beyond the definition
Icarus was not foolish — he was young, and the sky was there. What the myth contains is something more nuanced than 'don't fly too high': it contains the tragedy of the person who almost made it, brought down not by lack of ability but by the nature of the thing they reached for.
Origin & history
From Icarus (Latin), Ikaros (Greek) — the son of the craftsman Daedalus, who escaped Crete on wings his father made, flew too close to the sun, and drowned in the sea that bears his name.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The startup's icarian rise and fall was studied in business schools for years.
There was something icarian about his ambitions — glorious, and probably fatal.
She recognised the icarian quality in her own restlessness — the way the ceiling was never quite high enough.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Icarian” when the meaning fits your context: Relating to the story of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun on wax wings — characterised by reckless ambition, the refusal to heed warnings, and a fall that is both catastrophic and, somehow, beautiful.
Synonyms
reckless, overambitious, hubristic
Antonyms
cautious, measured, apollonian
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Icarian" mean?
Icarian is adjective meaning: Of reckless ambition that dares too high and suffers for it.. Relating to the story of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun on wax wings — characterised by reckless ambition, the refusal to heed warnings, and a fall that is both catastrophic and, somehow, beautiful.
Where does the word "Icarian" come from?
From Icarus (Latin), Ikaros (Greek) — the son of the craftsman Daedalus, who escaped Crete on wings his father made, flew too close to the sun, and drowned in the sea that bears his name.