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
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Buddhist-Taoist Japan, anointed as a new giant in Clash, has all but withdrawn from the stage.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
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
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Buddhist-Taoist Japan, anointed as a new giant in Clash, has all but withdrawn from the stage.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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anointed
Verb
-
Grainy mustard smeared on a chunk of corned beef is delicious too.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Cops called to the scene found blood smeared on the stairwell from the third floor to the second, and more blood smeared on the walls in the second-floor hallway.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
An in-depth study of the work, including macro X-ray fluorescence scans and comparisons with other works by the artist, confirmed Rembrandt painted it, said the museum’s curator of 17th century Dutch paintings, Jonathan Bikker.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Her likeness, donning her park ranger uniform, has been painted into a mural on Richmond’s 23rd Street, and her name graces a school building in the West Contra Costa Unified School District.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But this pork chop, coated in a fruity and smoky guajillo barbecue sauce and pooled with a sweet habanero butter sauce, made up for any feelings of neglect.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
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Eleven years later, Ajo resident Bill Eltzroth complained to the county and ADEQ that the facility’s operations coated his back porch in thick black dust.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anointed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anointed. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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