anointed
Americanadjective
-
consecrated or made sacred; dedicated to God, often in a ceremony that includes dabbing or sprinkling with holy oil.
In the Bible, the anointed High Priest was chosen from among the descendants of Aaron.
From the highest patriarch to the youngest baptized and anointed infant, communion was received by all at the Orthodox church.
-
chosen by or as if by divine authority; chosen for a sacred, high, or special vocation or purpose.
Stalin left no anointed successor, nor any framework for the orderly transfer of power.
-
Christianity. empowered or made effective for God’s purposes by the special activity of the Holy Spirit.
This is one of the most anointed websites I’ve ever visited—I was so encouraged by the devotional there.
-
rubbed or sprinkled with oil, ointment, or other oil-based mixture.
Pausing in the kitchen with the turkey, I heard ripples of anticipation as guests awaited the anointed bird and its accouterments.
-
sprinkled or smeared with any liquid (often used in combination).
The Pilsner on tap was a lovely light beer that paired nicely with lemon-juice-anointed oysters.
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of anointed
First recorded in 1375–1425; anoint ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective and noun senses; anoint ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Thatcher, his latest anointed icon, fares no better than a butterfly pinned to his mood board.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
After her conviction for embezzlement last year, it became clear Le Pen would need a Plan B and eventually she anointed Bardella as her stand-in candidate.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
Valdes was anointed a "hero of the Republic" for his part in the revolution.
From Barron's ● Jun. 21, 2026
In each market mania, new celebrity stock pickers get anointed, from Ryan Jacob and his Internet Fund during the dot-com era to Cathie Wood and her ARK Innovation ETF during the pandemic rally of 2020.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
Her friend had landed the biggest prize of her religion, an anointed one, but somehow she felt as if she was ruining someone’s life.
From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
