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 Considering that her designs—from the quirky and unmistakable totem collars to magic floating orbs and funky-fine rings—look like nothing else and immediately spark joy, Ashley Moubayed is keeping disco very much alive. — Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026 As a result, his compositions have become strange totems of the internet, like global ringtones. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026 Harper’s extra glove might be more of a totem than a practical need, but there’s little reason to doubt that the franchise slugger would go to great lengths to secure a career-first World Series championship. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 There, he’s attacked by The Denied, a militia group of non-benders who feel like second-class citizens in this world seeking an old totem of a prior Avatar known as Sonam. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for totem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totem
Noun
  • Dialects are as thick as old paint; symbols go up like flares.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The standout style was the La Pigalle pump, representing a symbol of confidence and emancipation.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Part nostalgia object and part mini marketing campaign, Thompson’s retro DVD Club is an unusually apt emblem for the weird baggage that comes with making a debut feature today.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The project’s thoroughness would be almost comical were its subject not so stubbornly controversial, an emblem of all the contradictions embedded in who, exactly, Americans take themselves to be.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The shoes feature a padded leather insole with the brand’s signature logo detailing, and a classic round, open-toe design.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Pittsburgh Penguins The logo will appear on players' helmets during all home and road games this season.
    — Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • One of the hallmarks of the modern corporation is the separation of ownership from control.
    — Ben Tarnoff, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Williams and her team scoured sites like 1stDibs to find the kinds of tasteful pieces that would live with the wealthy Crawford family but that also conveyed the subtly spooky effect that’s a hallmark of the film.
    — Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Totem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totem. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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