as in symbol
a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark
the bald eagle, that universally recognized totem of our country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 totem
The Beach Year: 2000 Runtime: 1h 59m Following A Life Less Ordinary, Boyle’s Hollywood sojourn continued with this adaptation of Alex Garland’s debut novel, seen by many at the time as a bit of a Gen-X totem of drugs, freedom, and alienation.
—
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025
The whale tooth was treated as a totem or sacred object, researchers said.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 19 May 2025
The facility, to be housed at Twickenham’s historic Stage 3, will feature a massive 24 x 4.5 meter back wall, 105 square meter LED ceiling, and additional mobile LED totem walls, complete with a permanent turntable and motion control crane.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Apr. 2025
One example is last year’s soft opening on remote Prince of Wales Island of a new port in Klawock, a small town with a rich Tlingit heritage and a renowned totem park.
—Fran Golden, AFAR Media, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totem
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025
The whale tooth was treated as a totem or sacred object, researchers said.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 19 May 2025
The facility, to be housed at Twickenham’s historic Stage 3, will feature a massive 24 x 4.5 meter back wall, 105 square meter LED ceiling, and additional mobile LED totem walls, complete with a permanent turntable and motion control crane.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Apr. 2025
One example is last year’s soft opening on remote Prince of Wales Island of a new port in Klawock, a small town with a rich Tlingit heritage and a renowned totem park.
—Fran Golden, AFAR Media, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totem
Noun
-
Specifically saying these white, thin, traditionally feminine bodies are not just aspirational but symbols of morality, tradition, purity.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
31 July 2025
-
The continent’s record-breaking visitor numbers are now straining local resources and sparking a backlash from residents as the familiar sight of suitcases rattling on cobblestones and selfie-snappers jostling for position has become a symbol of the strain.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
Teeth are emblems of character, people have long believed, whether consciously or unconsciously.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
-
Batman Doughnut – an unglazed shell doughnut filled with cookies & Kreme, dipped in black chocolate icing and topped with a Bat emblem.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
Some Chinese distributors openly market products such as Supermicro’s B200 racks on social media that show photos of packages with the company’s logo—although it has not been verified if the sales have been completed.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
24 July 2025
-
The Krispy Kreme logo is featured on the heel strap.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
International participation has long been a hallmark of the event, especially in Music, where Swenson estimates that one out of every five participants is from another country.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
-
The random nature of CSU is another hallmark of the condition.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Flow Space,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
The 55-year-old recently had a one-of-a-kind Blue Diamond statue made of his trademark victory celebration sold via auction for $30,000 through UFC Collectives by Memento Exclusives.—
DJ Siddiqi,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
In many instances, a boilerplate complaint will outline allegations against counterfeiters, who have committed the highest level of trademark infringement, according to Sarah Fackrell, a professor of intellectual property law at the Chicago-Kent College of Law.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Totem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totem. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share