as in to smear
to rub an oily or sticky substance over
anoint the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection
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Recent Examples of anoint
At that time, chrism oil is poured on the spoon, which the archbishop dips their finger into to anoint the monarch on their head, chest and hands.
—
Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
Now adding to an imposing lineup that includes Baruch Spinoza, Karl Marx, Franz Kafka, Sigmund Freud, and Albert Einstein, as well as artistic luminaries ranging from Leonard Bernstein to Mark Rothko, the publisher has anointed Stephen Sondheim.
—Chip Brown, Air Mail, 11 Apr. 2026
On Monday, as he was nominated in parliament as a presidential candidate, Min Aung Hlaing anointed Ye Win Oo, a former intelligence chief seen as fiercely loyal to the general, as his successor to lead the military.
—Reuters, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
He was asked to anoint one member of his congregation, a Guatemalan immigrant who worked at a local meatpacking plant and often came to the church before work to pray.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anoint
Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
Now adding to an imposing lineup that includes Baruch Spinoza, Karl Marx, Franz Kafka, Sigmund Freud, and Albert Einstein, as well as artistic luminaries ranging from Leonard Bernstein to Mark Rothko, the publisher has anointed Stephen Sondheim.
—Chip Brown, Air Mail, 11 Apr. 2026
On Monday, as he was nominated in parliament as a presidential candidate, Min Aung Hlaing anointed Ye Win Oo, a former intelligence chief seen as fiercely loyal to the general, as his successor to lead the military.
—Reuters, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
He was asked to anoint one member of his congregation, a Guatemalan immigrant who worked at a local meatpacking plant and often came to the church before work to pray.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anoint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anoint
Verb
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Participants spill into streets, courtyards and public squares covered head to toe in pigment, and strangers smear color on one another as a greeting.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
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The dog couldn’t go in her room so soon after her transplant, so Aspen dabbed colors on a small canvas and handed it to Scott, who put it in a plastic bag and smeared peanut butter on top.—
Laura Ungar,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
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For years, radical climate activists have painted a bleak view of the future.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
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As readers are now no doubt aware, the 2026 regulations have painted the sport into a bit of a corner.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Regions like Brittany and Bordeaux have their own distinctive baking traditions, with buttery treats that come shaped like bicycle wheels or coated in beeswax.—
Jen Rose Smith,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
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Both types benefit from careful timing and being coated with sauce, if desired, right after cooking.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anoint. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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