anointed

verb

past tense of anoint
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anointed The press had already anointed him the heir apparent to Diego Maradona; an emotional Maradona was filmed in the stands, with his arms in the air, as Messi entered the game. — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 27 June 2026 As Sonnenfeld shows in his 1988 book The Hero’s Farewell, heroes never select themselves but are anointed by society as pillars of that society’s values. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026 This year’s primary should be wide open, with DeSantis departing, but the party has anointed one candidate, Koger said. — Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026 The pair's relationship suffered after NBC anointed Leno instead of Letterman, as chronicled in the 1996 TV film The Late Shift. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 18 June 2026 Sometimes he was described as a modern-day Cyrus, a Persian king and a pagan in the Hebrew Bible whom God nevertheless anointed and would use for his purposes. — Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 His coach, John Tortorella, anointed him the best 200-foot player in hockey after a dominating defensive effort against Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche in the conference final, and for good reason. — Jesse Granger, New York Times, 10 June 2026 In the wake of the shooting, many New Yorkers anointed him a hero for doling out street justice in the crime-riddled subway system. — Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026 Curry Barker, the writer-director of Obsession, has been similarly anointed. — Tyler Chou, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anointed
  1. smeared
  2. painted
  3. coated
Verb
  • When the House Committee smeared me on TV and sent letters chastising Northwestern during the Biden administration, suddenly my Palestine solidarity speech became a fireable offense.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
  • Investigators said two operatives from Russia’s military traveled to Britain under aliases, smeared the poison on the front door of Skripal’s home and boarded a flight back to Moscow.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of smeared
Verb
  • Bieber's nails were her preferred length and shape—medium almonds—and painted with a few coats of a creamy sky blue polish with a lilac-y undertone.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 20 July 2026
  • One wore an inflatable pink frog costume with AMPHIFA painted on the tummy.
    — Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
Definition of painted
Verb
  • Shag carpet covered original terra-cotta floors, high-gloss paint coated nearly every wooden surface and overgrown weeds crowded the yard.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • Flip the block of cheese so both sides are coated in the oil.
    — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of coated

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anointed
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Cite this Entry

“Anointed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anointed. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on anointed

Nglish: Translation of anointed for Spanish Speakers

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