anointed
Americanadjective
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
In the course of a whirlwind four weeks, every wing of the parliamentary Labour Party has anointed him as the only person able to reverse their electoral predicament.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
They believe that God speaks directly to and through the NAR’s anointed apostles and prophets about current and sometimes future events.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2026
The Next Warren Buffett Curse,” or the superstition that those anointed with the title are doomed to fall short, might not be real.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
Over chair-backs in hall they dropped their mantles and passed in to the polished tubs, where maids poured out warm baths for them, anointed them, and pulled fresh tunics, fleecy cloaks around them.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
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.
