as in to smear
to rub an oily or sticky substance over
anoint the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anoint
What was once dismissed as merely pop could now be anointed as art.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
After an eager and flattering fan (Donovan) appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of younger admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025
Since his buzzy arrival, D’Angelo had been anointed rhythm and blues’ golden child, destined to sit at the same table with the likes of soul giants Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, and Al Green.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Essential in this map were, from the start, the Armed Forces, a sector with which Maduro had little relationship before being anointed by Chávez.
—Inés Capdevila, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anoint
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
After an eager and flattering fan (Donovan) appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of younger admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025
Since his buzzy arrival, D’Angelo had been anointed rhythm and blues’ golden child, destined to sit at the same table with the likes of soul giants Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, and Al Green.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Essential in this map were, from the start, the Armed Forces, a sector with which Maduro had little relationship before being anointed by Chávez.
—Inés Capdevila, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anoint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anoint
Verb
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As a result, calls for action have been met with suspicion, with some online commentators accusing feminists of making up MaskPark as a way to smear Chinese men.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
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His nose is smeared with a white strip of sun cream.—
Molly Aitken,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ceilings Often affectionately referred to as the 'fifth wall' of a room, painting a ceiling is one of the top tips designers recommend for making a room feel bigger.—
Nishaa Sharma,
The Spruce,
6 Feb. 2026
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From tips painted in playful hues to swoon-worthy details like hearts and kisses, a Valentine's Day French can subtly nod to the holiday or offer an instantly recognizable ode.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sustainable battery design To develop the carbon spheres, Elsaesser and his research team drew inspiration from Mozartkugeln, the iconic Austrian confections made of pistachio, marzipan, and nougat and coated in dark chocolate.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
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Add cabbage and toss with tongs to coat.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anoint. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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