unctuous

adjective

unc·​tu·​ous ˈəŋ(k)-chə-wəs 

-chəs,

-shwəs

1

: having, revealing, or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality

2

a

: fatty, oily

b

: smooth and greasy in texture or appearance

3

: plastic

fine unctuous clay

unctuously adverb

unctuousness noun

Did you know?

Is unctuous positive or negative?

Nowadays, unctuous usually has a negative connotation, but it originated as a term describing a positive act: that of healing. The word comes from the Latin verb unguere (“to anoint”), a root that also gave rise to the words unguent (“a soothing or healing salve”) and ointment. The oily nature of ointments may have led to the use of unctuous to describe things marked by an artificial gloss of sentimentality. An unctuous individual may mean well, but the person’s insincere effusiveness can leave an unwelcome residue—much like that of some ointments.

Synonyms

• artificial
• backhanded
• counterfeit
• double
• double-dealing
• double-faced
• fake
• feigned
• hypocritical
• insincere
• Janus-faced
• jive [slang]
• left-handed
• lip
• mealy
• mealymouthed
• Pecksniffian
• phony
• phoney
• phony-baloney
• phoney-baloney
• pretended
• two-faced

Examples of unctuous in a Sentence

an unctuous effort to appear religious to the voters

an unctuous appraisal of the musical talent shown by the boss's daughter

Recent Examples on the Web

The 31-year-old sherry bomb explodes in torrents of coconut and pineapple fruit before an unctuous, lingering finish of tobacco smoke. —Brad Japhe, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Needs a few years to better harmonize into a more unctuous delight. —Tom Mullen, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024

And as unctuous as the IBA proved to be, their leaders made a fair point about IOC grift that has remained a stain on the Olympic movement: why, exactly, do members receive five-star accommodation and ludicrous per diems while many athletes struggle to survive? —Sean Gregory / Paris, TIME, 11 Aug. 2024

Remember that when spraying down your pasty, white offspring, as most of us could do without the piquant afterglow from inhaling that unctuous, SPF-100 mist. —Steve Cambria, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French unctueus, from Medieval Latin unctuosus, from Latin unctus act of anointing, from unguere to anoint

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

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Kids Definition

unctuous

adjective

unc·​tu·​ous ˈəŋ(k)-chə(-wə)s 

ˈəŋ(k)sh-wəs

1

: smooth and greasy like an ointment : oily

2

: too smooth, polite, and agreeable in speech or manner

unctuously adverb

unctuousness noun

Medical Definition

unctuous

adjective

unc·​tu·​ous ˈəŋ(k)-chə(-wə)s, ˈəŋ(k)sh-wəs 

: rich in oil or fat : fatty

an unctuous pharmaceutical preparation