as in to smear
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 anoint
No one inherits leadership, there's no one anointed the leader.
—
Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 17 Feb. 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
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
See All Example Sentences for anoint
Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 17 Feb. 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
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
See All Example Sentences for anoint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anoint
Verb
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Micron has come a long way since its humble founding nearly half a century ago in the basement of a Boise dental office, where sedative gas wafted through the floorboards and an early executive used a hair dryer to keep the company’s logo from smearing off its chips.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
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There’s a very good reason why audiences emerged from that movie ready to smear lipstick all over their faces for Halloween and then march in costume down to the Dolby Theater to demand an Oscar nomination.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The clay can be shaped, molded, and even dried and painted.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
13 Mar. 2026
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The mural was painted by co-owner Ed Roehr’s sister, Rebecca Roehr.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The signature Hula pie, featuring macadamia nut ice cream coated with an outer chocolate crust and drizzled with chocolate fudge, will return to the dessert menu.—
Angela Osorio,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Dusting windshields, coating sidewalks and veiling Atlanta’s spring sunshine in a golden haze.—
Nancy Badertscher,
AJC.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anoint. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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