as in smeared
to rub an oily or sticky substance over
anoint the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of anointed
Buddhist-Taoist Japan, anointed as a new giant in Clash, has all but withdrawn from the stage.
—
Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
The John Harbaugh era came to an end, and Ravens brass has anointed former Harbaugh disciple Jesse Minter as the man to lead Baltimore back to Super Bowl glory.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Laws, churches, and IKEA were all anointed.
—Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
In June 2022, Forbes anointed golf star Tiger Woods a billionaire, owing his impressive status to his various championship wins and numerous endorsements, including Gatorade and Nike.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
As a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, King understood that the spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he was anointed to deal with the problems of the poor.
—Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
What was once dismissed as merely pop could now be anointed as art.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
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
Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
The John Harbaugh era came to an end, and Ravens brass has anointed former Harbaugh disciple Jesse Minter as the man to lead Baltimore back to Super Bowl glory.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Laws, churches, and IKEA were all anointed.
—Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
In June 2022, Forbes anointed golf star Tiger Woods a billionaire, owing his impressive status to his various championship wins and numerous endorsements, including Gatorade and Nike.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
As a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, King understood that the spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he was anointed to deal with the problems of the poor.
—Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
What was once dismissed as merely pop could now be anointed as art.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anointed
Verb
-
Tears and lemonade are spilled; mud and cake get smeared into the rug; confetti balloons are popped one by one, showering elated children in rainbow-paper flakes.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
-
His nose is smeared with a white strip of sun cream.—
Molly Aitken,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike the portraits in Newman’s book, which were painted to glorify their sitters, many of the images in the Epstein files have a queasy, destabilizing aspect.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Months into 2025, only 400 of the city’s affected 16,000 intersections had had the curbs painted red.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
It's coated in Zatar, which great choice.—
Emily Elias,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Swirl skillet until fully coated with butter and bacon grease.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anointed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anointed. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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