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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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
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Some of these are artists had galleries worked with during their lifetime, but few had a representative with as much power and money as Hauser & Wirth.Maddie Klett, ARTnews.com, 14 Jan. 2025
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Sam Darnold’s Monday night meltdown cost him a lot of money in free agency.Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Under the terms of the acquisition, Disney would own 70 percent of Fubo, and Fubo would receive an aggregate cash payment of $220 million from Disney, Fox, and WBD when the deal closes.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2025
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With the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets also in pursuit, the Phillies will need to be ready to pony up some serious cash for the southpaw.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Some stars task Mario with collecting 100 coins which are accrued by exploring the world, hitting coin boxes, and defeating enemies.Patricia Hernandez, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
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The probability Higgins returns feels as much like a 50-50 coin flip as any decision.Paul Dehner Jr., The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Despite this, the currency is standing at around 158 against the greenback, at its weakest since July lows.Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025
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Data is a currency in its own right and worth billions when it is sold to advertisers.Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Former President Harry Truman offered to purchase it from Denmark in 1946 for $100 million in gold.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
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Ahead of her hosting duties, the stand-up comedian made her mark in a gold silk satin Prabal Gurung column gown featuring an overskirt and rosette detail at the hip.Brittany Talarico, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Wampum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wampum. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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