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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anointed
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 has been anointed for no-doubt stardom since the Army All-American Bowl in 2018, when Waddle first crossed paths with Pat Surtain II.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
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
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
Sullivan regularly anointed stars and cultural icons with a single appearance, beaming performers—Elvis Presley, the Supremes, and the Beatles—straight into homes that might never otherwise encounter them.
—Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
Announced five days after the 2026 Oscar nods, the BAFTA nominations anointed presumed Best Picture frontrunner One Battle After Another as the European organization's leader, with 14 nods overall.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
No one inherits leadership, there's no one anointed the leader.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Buddhist-Taoist Japan, anointed as a new giant in Clash, has all but withdrawn from the stage.
—Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Reuters, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
He has been anointed for no-doubt stardom since the Army All-American Bowl in 2018, when Waddle first crossed paths with Pat Surtain II.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
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
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
Sullivan regularly anointed stars and cultural icons with a single appearance, beaming performers—Elvis Presley, the Supremes, and the Beatles—straight into homes that might never otherwise encounter them.
—Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
Announced five days after the 2026 Oscar nods, the BAFTA nominations anointed presumed Best Picture frontrunner One Battle After Another as the European organization's leader, with 14 nods overall.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
No one inherits leadership, there's no one anointed the leader.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Buddhist-Taoist Japan, anointed as a new giant in Clash, has all but withdrawn from the stage.
—Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anointed
Verb
-
On one visit, the pizza was smeared in a creamy, garlicky white sauce with a smattering of roasted broccoli.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Clearly, the presence of sugar was no deterrent, as the dog appeared to have enthusiastically investigated the fallen bag, emerging with powdered evidence smeared across his face.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In his annual letter to shareholders, released Monday, the JPMorgan CEO painted a mostly rosy picture of the US economy going into 2026.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
-
As well as her most recognizable fish, a whole, butterflied white fish, beautifully charred on the grill and painted with both red adobo and a garlic-parsley rub.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Inside a Sur La Table kitchen located in Topanga Village in Woodland Hills, a group of participants roll up their sleeves, hands lightly coated in flour, preparing to take on one of the most technically demanding pastries in the world, the croissant.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
That’s not carbon-coated or carbon-looking.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anointed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anointed. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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