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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wampum
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
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
See All Example Sentences for wampum
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
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
See All Example Sentences for wampum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wampum
Noun
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April 20 – May 20 A quiet hunch about money or timing could turn out unusually profitable today.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
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Taurus April 20 – May 20 A quiet hunch about money or timing could turn out unusually profitable today.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Spirit’s losses grew, and its cash pile shrank.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
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Winner may not substitute, assign or transfer Prize or redeem Prize for cash, but Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute Prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value.—
AJC.com,
AJC.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
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Retail prices for coins and bars typically include premiums above the spot price.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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There is another half of this coin as well, as Bungie also indicates that a pure PvP mode may be coming.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Officials have advised energy conservation, cut growth forecasts and warned of fallout from high inflation and 17-year lows in the value of its currency.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
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Gold coins can be a good fit for those who want to be able to easily liquidate their gold into currency, as bullion can require more work to authenticate and verify.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Anyone 13 and older can sign up for sessions, starting at 20 bucks, and smash glass bottles and electronics to pieces.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
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Amex has a habit of adding complicated benefits to its top-tier cards, but this benefit bucks that trend.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Defenseman Olen Zellwenger, also 22, had a goal and assist in his first two playoff games and Olympic gold medalist Jackson LaCombe, 25, led the team in ice time — and was third in points with 10 — in his first postseason.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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That water is heated by magma below and shoots back upward, bringing with it precious minerals such as copper, zinc and gold, along with the iron and sulfur found in the snail’s shell.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wampum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wampum. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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