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
Her materials include those most basic elements of the earth—geology—and her forms borrow from totems, obelisks, prehistoric megaliths, and Indigenous Caribbean zeniths.
—
Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 7 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
For more than a decade, the singer-songwriter Mitski has been a totem for yearners.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
Exhausted young office workers here have unofficially adopted Cry Cry Horse as a totem reflecting their mood at work.
—Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for totem
Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 7 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
For more than a decade, the singer-songwriter Mitski has been a totem for yearners.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
Exhausted young office workers here have unofficially adopted Cry Cry Horse as a totem reflecting their mood at work.
—Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for totem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totem
Noun
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The palace is a fantasia, with a courtyard that does not lead to any rooms and three towers topped by onion domes—the tallest of which was dedicated to Stockalper’s namesake, Kaspar, of the Three Magi, and adorned by symbols of the sun.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
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The drinks cabinet became a symbol of arrival, achievement and adulthood.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
It was tempered only by a parallel movement to celebrate Garrincha’s life and to restate, one last time and for future generations, the reasons for his status as a national emblem.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
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Kara Jakubik, a 17-year-old Life Scout with Scouting America and an Ambassador with Girl Scouts, spent the morning with other volunteers walking through rows of headstones searching for symbols, such as military branch emblems.—
Abigail Dollins,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2026
Noun
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The beloved 35-year-old Florida Ficus at the entrance is the impetus for the iconic logo.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Spanish graphic designer, illustrator and sculptor, Peret, sketched the brand’s first logo, while architect Tonet Sunyer designed the first Desigual store in Ibiza’s port in 1986, a moment the brand is now celebrating 40 years later.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Those of us dedicated to strengthening American democracy have long supported the hallmarks of a free and fair society, including a vibrant civil society, an independent press, quality civics education, and elections run with integrity.—
Sarita Gupta,
Time,
2 June 2026
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Abel’s $10 billion investment in Alphabet also echoes a hallmark of Buffett’s deal-making style.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Totem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totem. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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