as in money
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment
made some real wampum on that last business deal
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wampum
Entering the New-York Historical Society from Central Park West, all visitors come upon a section of wampum belt and the kind of statement that in the last several years has become standard fare at cultural institutions.
—
Marc Tracy, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024
Similar stories played out with other forms of money, such as wampum beads.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Elizabeth James-Perry and Erin Genia: Wampanoag and Dakota Adornment
James-Perry, honored this year with a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts, makes wampum jewelry, textiles, and maritime art directly tied to her Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal heritage.
—Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2023
Some of their gear—a pair of shoes, a VHF radio, a wampum sash worth several thousand dollars—now resides on the canal’s bottom.
—Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for wampum
Marc Tracy, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024
Similar stories played out with other forms of money, such as wampum beads.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Elizabeth James-Perry and Erin Genia: Wampanoag and Dakota Adornment
James-Perry, honored this year with a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts, makes wampum jewelry, textiles, and maritime art directly tied to her Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal heritage.
—Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2023
Some of their gear—a pair of shoes, a VHF radio, a wampum sash worth several thousand dollars—now resides on the canal’s bottom.
—Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for wampum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wampum
Noun
-
The general sales tax increase puts money into the county’s general fund for five years and sunsets in October 2031.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
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That money will be used to add an additional $250 to the accounts of the first 25 million children who are 10 years old and under who live in zip codes where the median income is less than $150,000.—
Ella McCarthy,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Carson’s entry took second prize and a thousand-dollar cash award.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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The deal was reportedly valued at over $1 billion and involved a mix of cash and stock.—
Amelia Lucas,Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
7 June 2026
Noun
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The coin depicts Trump on its front, with its packaging also featuring photos of him and White.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
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Segregated storage keeps your exact coins and bars separate from other investors’ holdings.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The issue stalled in the Senate due to an unrelated debate over a proposal to block the creation of a central bank digital currency.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
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In its bid to shore up the currency, the central bank delivered a larger-than-expected 50 basis points hike in its meeting in May, and has intervened in the forex markets.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Summer used to be time for teens to get a part-time job, earn a few bucks and pile up some work experience.—
Joel Mathis,
TheWeek,
12 June 2026
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While the sticker shock of what is typically a $13 trip enraged the masses—the price was initially announced at $150 in April, before it got knocked down to 98 bucks in the face of public backlash—some observers, particularly those from Europe, scoffed at all the outrage.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The gold Mega Ball ranges from 1 to 24.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
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Each of the asymmetrical stones used in the brooches, which were individually polished and finished, were cut specifically for the drawing of the creation with 18-karat yellow gold prongs screwed in to protect the fragile stone tableaus.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wampum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wampum. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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