as in to smear
to rub an oily or sticky substance over
anoint the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anoint
Chavez was positioned as the Christlike figure who toiled for all of us at great personal cost and thus was anointed the face of the farmworkers movement.
—
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Despite reports signaling that the president was poised to anoint Cornyn for the general election, no endorsement has been issued yet.
—Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
The Jets will be paying the bulk of his salary, a rapid fall of stature for a quarterback anointed the Week 1 starter in New York a year ago.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
Otherwise, the evening was more about anointing talent that was arguably overdue for awards recognition.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anoint
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Despite reports signaling that the president was poised to anoint Cornyn for the general election, no endorsement has been issued yet.
—Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
The Jets will be paying the bulk of his salary, a rapid fall of stature for a quarterback anointed the Week 1 starter in New York a year ago.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
Otherwise, the evening was more about anointing talent that was arguably overdue for awards recognition.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anoint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anoint
Verb
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Traynere said after the hearing the issues were all about politics and an attempt to smear her.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, whose term featured record numbers of disappearances and homicides, complained that political adversaries were exaggerating the problem to smear his reputation and legacy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The plans included renderings of what the building would look like if it's painted white.—
Arden Farhi,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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If the office building is painted white – in a process that would degrade the granite – a visual key to understanding its architectural and political history would be lost.—
Kevin D. Murphy,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Start simple with soft sourdough and chili oil for dipping or tartare with crispy chips before diving into a cheesy smashburger or ribbons of pasta coated in a creamy mushroom-herb sauce.—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
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The show’s name referred to their self-identification as helpless babies overwhelmed by the pressures of modernity, comforted only by coating themselves in fancy serums and moisturizers to recreate the peaceful, placental insulation of the womb.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anoint. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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