Synonyms of anointing

anointing 1 of 2

noun

as in anointment

Related Words

• anointment
• ordination
• investment
• induction
• installation
• installment
• investiture
• placement
• delegation
• authorization
• election
• emplacement
• ranking
• nomination
• instating
• picking
• destination
• choosing
• office
• deputation
• selection
• choice
• situation
• position
• job
• singling (out)
• station
• gig
• designation
• billet
• spot
• appointment
• commission
• place
• assignment

Dissimilar Words

• discharge
• firing
• dismissal
• expulsion
• removal
• rejection
• dismission
• deposition
• overthrow
• ejection
• ouster
• eviction
• dethronement
• blackball

anointing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of anoint

as in smearing

to rub an oily or sticky substance over

anoint the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection

Synonyms & Similar Words

• smearing
• painting
• coating
• daubing
• staining
• plastering
• bedaubing
• besmearing
• oiling
• greasing
• smudging
• soiling
• dirtying
• tarring
• besmirching
• blackening
• larding
• sullying
• pitching
• befouling
• mucking
• muddying
• gumming
• fouling
• miring
• gauming
• griming
• smirching
• bemiring
• begriming

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of anointing

Noun

The Sunshine State Letdown is one more phase in the choreographed anointing of Donalds as the Republican nominee for governor. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2026

By all accounts, virality is violent for its subjects, and building a sustainable career from sudden celebrity is a formidable task; any sensible person would be wise to distrust such an instantaneous anointing. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

Chalamet represents a less comfortable path for the industry — an anointing of the popular kid, an endorsement of a set of campaign standards that doesn’t exactly align with its own. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 4 Mar. 2026

The anointing of Dokoupil in mid-December may have surprised some viewers. — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026

Clair Obscur was already the favorite to win the grand prize — but kicking off the show with the game front-and-center felt like an anointing. — James Perkins Mastromarino, NPR, 12 Dec. 2025

Verb

On the set that was apparently once a Jehovah’s Witness Headquarters, Lineker was beatific, anointing the next generation. — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 21 June 2026

The brochures were distributed at the annual Extel awards, a survey of fund managers anointing the analysts deemed best in their field, announced at a lunch at the Guildhall. — Ian King, CNBC, 17 June 2026

Otherwise, the evening was more about anointing talent that was arguably overdue for awards recognition. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026

At least one competitor is already anointing Stolz, a seven-time world champ who’s just 21— and only halfway through the Olympic program in Milan—the best ever. — Sean Gregory, Time, 14 Feb. 2026

Hot 97 has played an outsize role for decades in debuting new hits, anointing superstars, and wading into major cultural debates; Mero’s most recent predecessor in the morning-show role is Ebro Darden, who announced the end of his 20-plus-year tenure at the station in December. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026

The wins come on the heels of the Gotham Film Awards anointing One Battle After Another its Best Feature on Monday, and the New York Film Critics Circle doing the same Tuesday. — Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025

Since Ellison’s takeover of Paramount, the company has raised eyebrows for seeming to appease conservative audiences, particularly with CBS News anointing Weiss, who forged her brand as a columnist arguing against progressive politics. — J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025

Prosecutors said that instead of seeking medical treatment when their two-day-old son, Hayden, stopped eating and began to turn pale blue, Blair, 37, and Taylor, 32, relied on praying over their son’s body and anointing him with olive oil. — Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025