totem

noun

ˈtō-təm How to pronounce totem (audio)
Definition of totemnext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of totem Handshakes and High Fives The Dodgers have become MLB’s totem for a salary cap. — Levi Weaver, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 The Keeper collar, one of the brand’s bestsellers, can be reconfigured with different totems and tassels, while Moubayed expects the Totem chain to be another strong performer. — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026 If the likes of Richter, Immendorff, and Polke were established totems of German art when Koether was starting out, there were also younger figures in the limelight. — Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026 Making the film made Wishnow rethink what the function of a critic is, especially in how Christgau describes what the two core totems of criticism are. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for totem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totem
  1. symbol
  2. emblem
  3. logo
  4. hallmark
Noun
  • The race has taken on significance beyond Michigan, with Republicans casting El-Sayed as a symbol of a Democratic Party moving further to the left.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Coupled with job-displacement fears from AI, opponents now point to the facilities as a physical symbol of who benefits from the boom and who gets stuck with the bill.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of symbol
Noun
  • Scandinavian simplicity is layered with classic Vietnamese craftsmanship, while the hotel's bamboo dragonfly emblem takes inspiration from a nostalgic childhood toy in Vietnam.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In 1922 the King of Italy granted Fratelli Prada the right to incorporate the royal Savoy coat of arms and knotted-rope motif into their official emblem.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of emblem
Noun
  • The home team is rocking black jerseys, with the OG logo on their helmets.
    — Gavin Godfrey, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The logo of Australian data centre operator NextDC is seen on its Artarmon facility in Sydney on September 15, 2026.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of logo
Noun
  • The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for nine consecutive weeks, became an instant hallmark of the mid-2000s, and cemented Ne-Yo’s brand of heartfelt autofiction.
    — Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Linvill said a hallmark of Storm-1516 videos is the use of real actors whose faces are swapped using AI to look like someone else.
    — Shannon Bond, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of hallmark

Browse Nearby Words

toted (up)
totem
totems
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“Totem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totem. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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