anointed

verb

past tense of anoint
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anointed Later, Keldermans and fellow clergy member Katherine Elsner anointed a congregant who was having surgery later that month and then gave her a prayer blanket blessed by the community. — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 With the press world’s help, Omar Jamal was anointed as the authoritative voice on all political issues concerning Minnesota’s Somali community and the Somali population at large in America. — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026 The Dodgers signed Díaz for $69 million last December and feted him and his family with a lovely news conference, at which president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman anointed the three-time All-Star as the undisputed closer. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Kevin, from the reports of many, was not so subtle in his efforts to ramp up his public relations campaign for his candidacy — and in some circles he was anointed as the favorite to be Bob’s successor. — Bob Chapek, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026 Were the beings who anointed Benjamin Sisko as their Emissary born this way? — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026 While the movement tried to resist hierarchy, the media unofficially anointed Steinem the spokeswoman of feminism. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 22 Sep. 2026 Yet for all that, the peasants still believe in their king, in the idea of a monarch who’s been anointed by God to rule (justly) over them. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026 Ternus, who was anointed Apple’s next CEO in April, had just finished a long day of reporting the company’s quarterly earnings. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anointed
  1. smeared
  2. painted
  3. coated
Verb
  • Sweat glistened on the white foundation smeared across her face.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • One prank involved Quan, Capshaw, and Harrison Ford surprising Spielberg with ice cream smeared all over their faces for one take.
    — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of smeared
Verb
  • While the weather painted a chaotic picture, stories from Malibu residents were of neighbors coming together as a community in a way only the specter of disaster could prompt.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Her fingernails were painted pink, and her body was bound with rope and appeared to be in a state of mummification.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of painted
Verb
  • Researchers then installed the electrodes and coated the structure with sputtered gold.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Increase heat to medium-high; cook, adding more pasta cooking liquid as needed, until pasta is al dente and coated in sauce, 2–3 minutes.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of coated

Browse Nearby Words

anoint
anointed
anointing
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Cite this Entry

“Anointed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anointed. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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