I am the God of Bethel, where thou didst anoint the stone, and make a vow to me. Now therefore arise, and go out of this land, and return into thy native country.
Source: tatoeba (7825972)
Anoint
/əˈnɔɪnt/
Synonyms for "anoint" (73 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: administer the eucharist, anele, appoint, balms, beeswax.
- Sentence evidence is available for anoint, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "anoint".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "anoint"
Keep "anoint" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "anoint" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "anoint", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "anoint" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
14 entriesMore specific
9 entriesCollocations
9 entriesanointing ceremonyanointing oilceremonial oilchrismconsecrating oilholy oiloil for anointingreligious ritesacred oil
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
9 total sentences available.
Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Now isn't Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he will be winnowing barley tonight on the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor; but don’t make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall note the place where he is lying. Then you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lay down. Then he will tell you what to do."
Source: tatoeba (7966797)
Wash thyself therefore and anoint thee, and put on thy best garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see thee, till he shall have done eating and drinking.
Source: tatoeba (7971468)
There are also two statues of Hadrian there, and not far from the statues a perforated stone to which Jews come every year to anoint it, mourn with groans, rend their garments, and so depart.
Source: tatoeba (8784721)
Showing 4 of 9 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "anoint"?
Closest matches include administer the eucharist, anele, appoint, balms, beeswax.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "anoint"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.