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
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Buddhist-Taoist Japan, anointed as a new giant in Clash, has all but withdrawn from the stage.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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anointed
Verb
-
The high-frequency detail that was already fading from atmospheric absorption got smeared further.—
Yook JiHun,
Popular Science,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Grainy mustard smeared on a chunk of corned beef is delicious too.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Still more come from artists, hopeful to be included the next time the lot gets painted.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
-
This game painted a fuller picture of who Lorenzen is.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The formula is richer than a typical lotion thanks to shea butter, but it’s designed to absorb gradually overnight rather than leaving skin feeling coated.—
Hana Hong,
Glamour,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The shrimp were tender with a little char, coated in a garlic chili glaze that added a mild kick without being overwhelming.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anointed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anointed. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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