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
-
Established on November 11, 1926, Route 66 stretched more than 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, becoming a symbol of opportunity, mobility and the American dream.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
-
Chestnuts bloom in these graceful, long pine-tree shapes, which look like a symbol of something.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Sybil, who spent her younger years beleaguered by the presence of her double, that emblem of feminine conformity named Désirée, never manages to perceive herself as anything but abnormal by comparison.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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References to nomads of the Kazakh steppe and local symbolism abound in the label, as seen in the heavy glass bottles recalling nomads’ flasks and decorated with handmade pendants in the form of old coins engraved with the emblem of each fragrance.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
The hallway to the field has a blue-and-yellow logo of the United States, which is co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico and Canada.—
Pete Grathoff
June 8,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2026
-
Kalshi’s logo appears on a smartphone placed on a reflective surface, with a blurry betting curve projected in the background in Creteil, France, on March 9, 2026, during a major scandal and $54 million lawsuit concerning bets related to recent strikes in Iran.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Residents enjoy a full-time doorman, fitness center, bicycle and private storage, and other hallmarks of white-glove cooperative living.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
9 June 2026
-
The ceremony also featured one pro-Palestinian demonstration, a recent hallmark of awards shows.—
Philissa Cramer,
Sun Sentinel,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Totem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totem. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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