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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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Buddhist-Taoist Japan, anointed as a new giant in Clash, has all but withdrawn from the stage.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
-
On one visit, the pizza was smeared in a creamy, garlicky white sauce with a smattering of roasted broccoli.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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Clearly, the presence of sugar was no deterrent, as the dog appeared to have enthusiastically investigated the fallen bag, emerging with powdered evidence smeared across his face.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
David Contreras, the letter said, painted a drastically different picture of Eric, as a violent man who struggled with mental health issues.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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The land recreates Arendelle around a lagoon, its timber buildings painted in muted Scandinavian pastels, facades adorned with rosemaling, a traditional Norwegian decorative art.—
Thomas Adamson,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The publication adds that the finished product is coated with a cheese seasoning blend that includes oil and powdered ingredients, contributing to its distinctive texture and durability.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
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These panels are coated with a photothermal dye that captures and converts sunlight into heat.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anointed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anointed. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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