as in symbol
a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark
the bald eagle, that universally recognized totem of our country
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of totem
Ketchikan, Alaska, is known as the totem capital of the world and is home to one of the largest collections of standing totem poles anywhere.
—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
In the 1960s, with the rise of the counterculture, totems became an even more widespread trope.
—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
In his work exist iconic signs of beloved local establishments — like the Playpen — the blinding glint reflecting off downtown’s skyline, telephone poles regarded as totems.
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Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
The auction includes other, less-pricey Shag prints and items, including an 8-inch Tiki Room totem mug (autographed on tag) and a lunchbox saluting Disneyland’s 50th anniversary.
—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for totem
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
In the 1960s, with the rise of the counterculture, totems became an even more widespread trope.
—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
In his work exist iconic signs of beloved local establishments — like the Playpen — the blinding glint reflecting off downtown’s skyline, telephone poles regarded as totems.
—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
The auction includes other, less-pricey Shag prints and items, including an 8-inch Tiki Room totem mug (autographed on tag) and a lunchbox saluting Disneyland’s 50th anniversary.
—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for totem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totem
Noun
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Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who unlawfully entered the country in 2011, has become a symbol of the resistance to Trump’s immigration crackdown.
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Remember, the heroic symbols that Ronald Reagan deployed so effectively were swiped from liberalism’s salad days in the Thirties and Forties.
Noun
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However, Manfred said the Dodgers and Giants were allowed to keep using Pride emblems on uniforms and hats under a grandfathered exception because Los Angeles and San Francisco are home to large LGBTQ communities and both clubs wanted to show support for those fans.
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Dismissed by some as a publicity stunt, the crew proved the naysayers wrong, becoming a formidable presence and a powerful emblem of change.
Noun
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White delivery vans with orange Katapulk logos splashed across each side delivered goods all over the island.
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In this photo illustration, the Anthropic logo is seen on a smartphone with a Claude Mythos logo in the background.
Noun
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My tick was a few millimeters long and teardrop-shaped, with a brick-red abdomen surrounding the black shield on its back—hallmarks of an adult female deer tick.
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The first goal came about through the kind of incisive and free-flowing attack that had been a hallmark of the contest in SoFi Stadium one week ago.
Cite this Entry
“Totem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totem. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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