anointed; anointing; anoints
1
: to smear or rub with oil or an oily substance
2
a
: to apply oil to as part of a religious ceremony
The priest anointed the sick.
b
: to choose by or as if by divine election
anoint him as his successor
also
: to designate as if by a ritual anointment
Critics have anointed her as an important new literary figure.
anointer
noun
Examples of anoint in a Sentence
The magazine anointed her the most popular actress of the year.
anoint the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection
Recent Examples on the Web
In the nearby village, toddler sons bedecked in colorful Heian period costumes sat atop the shoulders of their parading fathers; the boys, anointed by the gods, were only allowed to touch the ground after a festival’s upcoming ceremony.
—
Norma Meyer, Orange County Register, 15 May 2024
After surviving the hunt, Natalie is anointed the new leader of the group by Lottie as she is picked to wear the antler crown.
—Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for anoint 
Norma Meyer, Orange County Register, 15 May 2024
After surviving the hunt, Natalie is anointed the new leader of the group by Lottie as she is picked to wear the antler crown.
—Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for anoint
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anoint.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Anoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anoint. Accessed 31 May. 2024.
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