as in money
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment
a politician who seems more interested in pelf than in policy
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Recent Examples of pelf
Thomasine and Bushrod join up (as sheriffs relate) and share their pelf with Mexicans, Native Americans, other Black people, and poor white people.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 May 2022
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pelf
Noun
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Karen Powers overheard the adjuster accusing her husband and brother of having failed to perform work with the money that State Farm had issued on the earlier claim.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
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Cathy is also a woman feeling the pressure of getting married, ideally to a dude with money.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.—
Staff Reports,
The Providence Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
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To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it.—
Lianna Norman,
Florida Times-Union,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Green Day Green Day will be a part of an on-field performance just before the coin toss as the NFL honors Super Bowl MVPs of the past ahead of the 60th game in its history.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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There are literally thousands of potential bets on the game and everything surrounding it — from the coin toss to who will score the first touchdown to who will appear onscreen during the ads.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Protests sprang up all over Iran in December and January, largely fueled by an unaffordability crisis driven by inflation and the depreciation of the country’s currency.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Investigators said Dicer paid those boys in classroom currency.—
Jennifer Borrasso,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Player props have become such a big and fun part of betting on the big game, so here are 11 that are worth sprinkling a few bucks on.—
KC Joyner,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Today, all flavors cost $6 except for the gluten-free Toffee-tastic cookies, which run 7 bucks.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelf. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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