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
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
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Gone are Gascón’s reformist policies discouraging the use of cash bail and limiting the use of sentencing enhancements.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
-
Founded in 2011, PLD Space has raised more than 160 million euros ($188 million) to date, but the company is highly leveraged, with half of its cash coming in the form of loans.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Then, select the perfect charm to express your style, with options including a coin, a heart, a lightning bolt, a lock and a butterfly.—
Caitlyn Martyn
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
8 July 2025
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These are games that use virtual coins — which in turn, can be cashed in for real money or prizes — to play online casino-like games, according to the Anaheim Democrat’s office.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
With a sound currency fixed to gold, and lower taxes across the board, Germany’s economy boomed.—
Nathan Lewis,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
After leading crackdowns on digital currencies, such as Liberty Reserve and E-Gold in the 1990s, the agency best known for protecting U.S. presidents has become one of the world's biggest crypto custodians.—
Myles Miller Bloomberg News,
arkansasonline.com,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Considered to be one of the greatest and most versatile athletes of modern sports, Thorpe was the United States’ first Native American Olympic gold medalist.—
Anne Easton,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
-
Lauryn Hill reminded us that her style is as iconic as her voice, stepping out in a striking polka-dot ensemble layered with bold, oversized gold jewelry and a larger-than-life headwrap that felt both royal and revolutionary.—
Karissa Mitchell,
Essence,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wampum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wampum. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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