tip of the iceberg
noun phrase
: the earliest, most obvious, or most superficial manifestation of some phenomenon
Examples of tip of the iceberg in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That tip of the iceberg sparked yet another budget back-and-forth between Johnson and opposing aldermen.
—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
While some regions have seen progress on justice and accountability, such efforts continue to be a tip of the iceberg.
—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
That's just the small tip of the iceberg of her radical views.
—
CBS News,
4 Aug. 2024
Now, nearly half a millennium after Galileo marveled at the myriad pinpricks of light—moons, planets, and stars—in Earth’s skies, his successors are getting acquainted with the brightest tip of the iceberg of darker objects adrift between them.
—
Charlie Wood,
WIRED,
31 Dec. 2023
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Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
While some regions have seen progress on justice and accountability, such efforts continue to be a tip of the iceberg.
—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
That's just the small tip of the iceberg of her radical views.
—
CBS News,
4 Aug. 2024
Now, nearly half a millennium after Galileo marveled at the myriad pinpricks of light—moons, planets, and stars—in Earth’s skies, his successors are getting acquainted with the brightest tip of the iceberg of darker objects adrift between them.
—
Charlie Wood,
WIRED,
31 Dec. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Tip of the iceberg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tip%20of%20the%20iceberg. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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