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
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
There is a really quite amazing scene when Civility and Satcheechoe take a string of wampum and wrap it around the Pennsylvania governor’s arm to symbolically pull him to Albany to meet with all the Native people who have become involved in this case.
—Karin Wulf, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2021
Not only were these beads a coveted status symbol, but the powerful Mohawk of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (or Five Nations Iroquois) of what is now upstate New York, raided coastal peoples who did not furnish wampum for Haudenosaunee rituals.
—National Geographic, 19 Nov. 2020
Many of his pieces are horizontal, recalling the forms of early panoramic art and the woven wampum belts that are a cultural touchstone of his people.
—New York Times, 4 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for wampum
Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023
There is a really quite amazing scene when Civility and Satcheechoe take a string of wampum and wrap it around the Pennsylvania governor’s arm to symbolically pull him to Albany to meet with all the Native people who have become involved in this case.
—Karin Wulf, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2021
Not only were these beads a coveted status symbol, but the powerful Mohawk of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (or Five Nations Iroquois) of what is now upstate New York, raided coastal peoples who did not furnish wampum for Haudenosaunee rituals.
—National Geographic, 19 Nov. 2020
Many of his pieces are horizontal, recalling the forms of early panoramic art and the woven wampum belts that are a cultural touchstone of his people.
—New York Times, 4 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for wampum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wampum
Noun
-
While the agency expected to receive the grant funding on July 1, state officials noted that the federal government has until Sept. 30, 2026, to release the money to the states.—
Silas Allen
July 13,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 July 2025
-
There are several benefits to installing a bidet, including saving money on toilet paper and wipes, as well as helping to prevent clogs caused by excessive use of these products.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
The bar staff said a water would cost $2 — and only cash would be accepted.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
21 July 2025
-
Let the cash accumulate in your account or reinvest it in a short-term Treasury fund.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
For centuries, and in all kinds of weather, the British have licked ice creams, strolled piers and dropped coins in arcade games at the seaside.—
Suyin Haynes,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
-
In the fall of 2022, U.S. spies said the chances of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine were 50% − a coin flip.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
Reserves must be 1:1 backed by liquid assets, with the flexibility to issue stablecoins pegged to any official currency, such as HKD, USD, or offshore RMB, leveraging Hong Kong’s currency peg.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
In the streaming era, where every click has currency, fans are participants in this reclamation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
Available with either gold, silver, or rose gold faux leather straps, each sandal has a cork midsole that molds to your foot over time.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
15 July 2025
-
This at a time when just about every other commodity—oil, gold, even ethanol (another catalyst for ADM)—has been spiking.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wampum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wampum. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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