oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
a
: covered or impregnated with oil
oily rags
b
: relatively high in naturally secreted oils
oily skin
oily hair
3
: excessively smooth or suave in manner
Synonyms
Examples of oily in a Sentence
The liquid has an oily feel.
a pile of oily rags
The salad dressing was very oily.
Recent Examples on the Web
The palate is rich, oily, and full-bodied, with a long, warming finish.
—
Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Omega-3 is a fatty acid that is generally considered anti-inflammatory and good for the brain, also found in foods such as oily fish, walnuts and flaxseeds.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
This product is infused with a ton of fast-working ingredients that are safe for both sensitive and oily skin.
—Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2024
Even oily skin types, who may typically prefer matte foundations for acne, sing the praises of this find.
—Claire Sullivan, WWD, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oily 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Omega-3 is a fatty acid that is generally considered anti-inflammatory and good for the brain, also found in foods such as oily fish, walnuts and flaxseeds.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
This product is infused with a ton of fast-working ingredients that are safe for both sensitive and oily skin.
—Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2024
Even oily skin types, who may typically prefer matte foundations for acne, sing the praises of this find.
—Claire Sullivan, WWD, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oily
Dictionary Entries Near oily
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oily. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oily
adjective
oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
a
: covered or soaked with oil
b
: high in oils that are naturally produced
oily skin
oiliness
noun
Medical Definition
oily
adjective
oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
: excessively high in naturally secreted oils
oily hair
oily skin
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share