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

Pasta sauces are unctuous, and the tiramisu made my lactose-intolerant dining companion giddy. —Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 25 Nov. 2024

For cooking the aromatic vegetables, but also dotted overtop, butter seeps into the breadcrumbs and crisps up the top for an unctuous, golden bite. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024

Stir-fry noodle dishes like crystal-clear glassy jap chae ($19) and chewy udon ($19) noodles deliver more simple comfort, tossed with tender-crisp veggies in unctuous soy and oyster sauces, respectively. —Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2024

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

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