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
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
The force of the example, as Taggart explains, lies in us forgetting that Lizzo was once an oddball rapper-flautist who was anointed by Prince; an indie artist with pipes who endeared herself to mean Brooklyn gays.
—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
11 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
As long as there has been gaming media, there have been anointed games that everyone who’s part of the club is expected to like.
—
ArsTechnica,
25 May 2026
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
The force of the example, as Taggart explains, lies in us forgetting that Lizzo was once an oddball rapper-flautist who was anointed by Prince; an indie artist with pipes who endeared herself to mean Brooklyn gays.
—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
11 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
As long as there has been gaming media, there have been anointed games that everyone who’s part of the club is expected to like.
—
ArsTechnica,
25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anointed
Verb
-
The costume—doofy top hat, smeared white paint—suggested full commitment to the bit.
-
Over in the next aisle, Gifty Anderson, who typically buys bales from Canada and the United Kingdom, held up a dress smeared with body makeup and tossed it aside without a second thought.
Verb
-
And Charlotte, unlike Chicago or San Francisco, didn’t develop a historic LGBTQ neighborhood with rows of gay bars on one street, pride flags draped from the facade of dozens of businesses, or rainbows painted on crosswalks.
-
Among pop-up bars, bandstands and opulent, 19th century spa buildings painted in sherbet pastels, the Karlovy Vary Intl.
Verb
-
The chairs are crafted from weather-resistant PE rattan and powder-coated steel that stand up to harsh UV rays, rain, and other outdoor elements.
-
Each nail is coated in pink chrome powder that flashes a beetle-like green in the light.
Cite this Entry
“Anointed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anointed. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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