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
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 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
-
But professional and personal challenges preceded the LP's success: In 1998, the Backstreet Boys left their management group and were entangled in a lawsuit with businessman Lou Pearlman over the amount of money earned for their first two albums.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
-
Simply put, more of Madison Avenue’s money is going to streaming outlets.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The knife was displayed on a table along with cash and a cellphone.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
Fox News,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Strong cash flows helped the firm swing to a net cash position of £475 million from having net debt of £2 billion in 2023.—
Royston Wild,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
These methods work for a coin or two, but would be cumbersome for large deals.—
Dave Birnbaum,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The Bahamas Assembly approved the coins, commissioning the Soho Mint in Birmingham, England, to produce them.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In the last few months, the digital currency attained fresh, all-time highs on anticipation surrounding the policy changes that could materialize as a result of U.S. President Donald Trump securing reelection and the Republicans taking control of both the House and Senate.—
Charles Lloyd Bovaird II,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
-
If the ruble stayed at the current level, the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Russia may have to take action to weaken it, such as through a temporary decrease in foreign currency sales.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
But Saturday's winners are also vying for Oscar gold.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
23 Feb. 2025
-
After 525 basis points of rate hikes the dollar price of gold had risen all the way to $2559.—
John Tamny,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wampum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wampum. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share