Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Turner, who died Wednesday at age 87, elbowed his way to the forefront of modern television by prioritizing profit over deeper questions about whether certain cultural totems should be held sacrosanct.

From Salon • May 8, 2026

But he is best known for his inimitable, Surrealist pictures featuring skeletal, architectonic figures—merging humans, animals, foliage, totems and signs—which, though indecipherable, are instantly recognizable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

Down here in Australia there's a world of awe-inspiring wonders to behold, natural and man-made totems so stunning they can make your jaw drop to the floor.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025

Rebellion — the movie can confuse first-time viewers who assume that all masterpieces must be swaggering, visionary totems.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2025

People who ate their totems lost their teeth or went blind or became sterile or occasionally turned into the forbidden animal.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer