as in smears
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 anoints
In a city that continually anoints anoints new noteworthies in the hospitality space, The Connaught remains one of London’s long-lasting greats.
—
Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 20 Mar. 2026
The episode officially anoints a new captain for the 118 — and sees Harry considering a life fighting fires.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025
The Swedish institution often anoints writers who metabolize their specific histories into memorable language that stretches beyond borders and governments, transcending regional particulars.
—Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 20 Mar. 2026
The episode officially anoints a new captain for the 118 — and sees Harry considering a life fighting fires.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025
The Swedish institution often anoints writers who metabolize their specific histories into memorable language that stretches beyond borders and governments, transcending regional particulars.
—Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anoints
Verb
-
This chilling, starkly beautiful ambient piece draws Nebraska’s marginal whispers to the forefront and smears them across the picture plane.—
Sasha Geffen,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
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The five pieces offer, in turn, biomorphic hints of de Kooning, the ragged shapes of Clyfford Still, the bold geometries of Ellsworth Kelly, the paint smears of Gerhard Richter, and something that looks like toothpaste squeezed onto an orange peel.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But new video obtained by B’Tselem and shared with CNN paints a different picture.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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The album features 13 songs on a split tracklist, styled after a vinyl or cassette tape, that paints a chronological narrative about the dismantling of a romantic relationship.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The ranch flavor is prominent and generously coats your fingers (in the best way).—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
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Then there’s the gorgeous pink dust that lightly coats each chip.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anoints.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anoints. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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