1
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
an unctuous effort to appear religious to the voters
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in oily
overly or insincerely flattering
an unctuous appraisal of the musical talent shown by the boss's daughter
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unctuous
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
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
See all Example Sentences for unctuous 
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
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
See all Example Sentences for unctuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unctuous
Adjective
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Here are the best fake car ads and parodies celebrating SNL's 50th anniversary.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
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Yet criminals are impersonating the IRS to trick taxpayers into sharing personal information by texting them fake alerts of their eligibility for extra money, warns the Better Business Bureau.—
Kate Gibson,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This can lead to dandruff and its characteristic oily, flaky patches of skin forming on the scalp.5 This is one reason why dandruff is more common in the colder months—your skin is more likely to be drier, and your scalp is more vulnerable.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
13 Feb. 2025
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This soothing effect makes aloe vera a quick-absorbing, non-greasy moisturizer for all types of skin, including oily skin.—
Atenea Morales de la Cruz,
Vogue,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Tunes that reference country roads and chugging double shots of whiskey sit alongside the duo’s trademark message of fostering hope and connection.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2025
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Having a secondary creator next to him is a welcome development for Curry, who has faced constant double and triple teams this season at age 36 as teammates invite his other four teammates on the floor to beat them.—
Danny Emerman,
The Mercury News,
9 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
-
For lip color, reach for the Merit Beauty Signature lipsticks.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
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While lip reading is commonly used as a way for those with hearing disabilities to understand speech and conversations, it’s also called upon for legal matters and police investigations.—
Emily Holgate,
refinery29.com,
19 Jan. 2024
Adjective
-
Every day a new person emerges as a magnificent hero or a sickening villain.—
Kelsey McKinney,
Rolling Stone,
8 Feb. 2025
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This whole tragic final sequence plays out with a sense of sickening inevitability, like an ugly, violent domino effect.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Even seemingly superficial exchanges have deeper meaning. Need a break?—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
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What’s emanating out of her is this quiet, intense truth, coupled with this incredible, superficial vulnerability.—
William Earl,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The consequences are often deeply personal: sleepless nights, strained relationships and a constant sense of unease about who’s watching.—
Chad Angle,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
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The Sea Lions should get deeper before the playoffs with the return of 6-8 senior forward Wynton Brown, who has missed most of the past two weeks with a strained elbow ligament.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2025
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Thesaurus Entries Near unctuous
Cite this Entry
“Unctuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unctuous. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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