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 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 Attendants were tasked with caring for the trees, interacting with visitors, and giving performances, as well as contributing knickknacks that would serve as totems from their past. Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 20 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 Totems and totems with flags, less than 7 feet tall, and less than 1 inch in diameter. Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totems
Noun
  • College football Saturdays run on repetition, with the same soundtrack, symbols and rituals repeated so faithfully that generations of fans know the cues.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • America’s sense of security was smashed with apocalyptic fury Tuesday when the most destructive and meticulously planned terror attack in history shattered two of the country’s most potent symbols.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 6 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
  • Adams said customers have come to associate Uncrustables’ design trademarks with the brand.
    Dee-Ann Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • There were no advertising agencies or corporate trademarks in Bronze Age Arabia.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Totems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totems. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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