totems

plural of totem
as in symbols
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 totems 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 The excessive proliferation of totems and masks as decor is more closely associated with Beachcomber offshoots and descendants in the ’50s and ’60s. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 As a result, his compositions have become strange totems of the internet, like global ringtones. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026 The shrinekeeper greets bar patrons, gives them nicknames, will learn to recognize regulars, plays games of chess alone and with guests, and accepts tips that manifest into permanent flora or small totems within the microcosm of the work. — Gabriella Angeleti, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026 Why Ketchikan matters Long before Ketchikan became a bustling fishing town and cruise port, the sheltered waterways of Southeast Alaska were home to Indigenous communities whose histories were carved into towering cedar totems. — Josh Rivera, USA Today, 13 May 2026 Haring’s totems clearly express this idea. — Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totems
Noun
  • Florida has redesigned its driver’s license and identification card with new safety features and to incorporate state symbols into the document.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026
  • There is no set code that can account for a culture’s history, sacred symbols and collective traumas.
    — Ivan Doruda, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • People choose emblems, like a star or a flower, for a little flair.
    — Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The moment taps a broader wartime tradition in Ukraine, where heroic dogs, cats and rescuers become national emblems — and American gestures of solidarity carry growing political weight.
    — Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Similar to Dolce & Gabbana, vibrant animal prints have become distinctive trademarks of Roberto Cavalli’s designs since the 1970s.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The contested use of sports trademarks by gambling companies isn’t new.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Totems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totems. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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