as in soapy
overly or insincerely flattering
an executive who surrounds herself with oily, sycophantic assistants
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oily
Washing hair every day isn’t good for anyone—yes, even those that are oily.
—
Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 28 Jan. 2025
Key ingredients: pink clay, UV filters, rice starch | Best for: those with thin to medium, normal or oily hair
Best for Light Hold: Kevin Murphy Powder.
—Jenny Berg, Allure, 27 Jan. 2025
Additionally, take note of oily salad dressings that taste more bitter than usual.
—Arabella Hau, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025
Fungal dandruff can appear similar to oily dandruff.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 28 Jan. 2025
Key ingredients: pink clay, UV filters, rice starch | Best for: those with thin to medium, normal or oily hair
Best for Light Hold: Kevin Murphy Powder.
—Jenny Berg, Allure, 27 Jan. 2025
Additionally, take note of oily salad dressings that taste more bitter than usual.
—Arabella Hau, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025
Fungal dandruff can appear similar to oily dandruff.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oily
Adjective
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There is just cause for the soapier parts: Manet was married, and Morisot wed his brother.—
Julie Belcove,
Robb Report,
23 Nov. 2024
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The group that seems to have inspired Reid is Fleetwood Mac, which, with its shifting intramural love relationships, sundry drug problems and issues of control — the soapiest of rock’s many operas — was a romance novel/miniseries waiting to happen.—
Robert LloydTelevision Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2023
Adjective
-
Rosemary Farm in Santa Maria, California, has struggled to get by as bird flu ravages poultry populations across the U.S., sickening and killing birds and causing egg prices to spike.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
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Plastic straws were also noted sticking out of sea turtle nostrils, and sickening or killing seabirds, fish, manatees, dolphins and other marine mammals.—
Susanne Rust,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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One defense, beginning in the late eighteen-hundreds, was flypaper, sheets of which were coated on one side with an oleaginous substance that lured flies, then permanently trapped them.—
David Owen,
The New Yorker,
27 July 2024
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At any moment, the noodles might dissolve, the cheese topping burn, the dish collapse into a soggy, oleaginous mess.—
Isaac Butler,
The New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2023
Adjective
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The maguey imparts a subtly vegetal flavor, and cooks reserve just enough fat so that each bite of meat is unctuous.—
Edmund Tijerina,
Bon Appétit,
27 Feb. 2025
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Mandelson is a deeply charming, borderline unctuous character.—
Sam Knight,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The chatter has only grown in recent days, after Ms. Anderson — who just celebrated a birthday — posted a story on her Instagram account, showing a lavish bouquet of flowers and a gushy card from an admirer.—
Jesse McKinley,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2024
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There’s no better time to embrace the mushy gushy than in the first few moments after winning gold medals together.—
Meg Linehan,
The Athletic,
10 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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Likewise, Hollywood stars were adored in hagiographic terms.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
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Recording a song for the hagiographic Ronald Reagan movie but not his own biopic?—
Chris Stanton,
Vulture,
25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Nile begins its journey in Uganda, offering stunning views and abundant wildlife along the way.—
Emese Maczko,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
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The full Dietary Guidelines for Americans on alcohol, which few Americans read, offer abundant cautions.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oily. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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