1
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
an unctuous effort to appear religious to the voters
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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of unctuous
At first, this felt alien to me, and that’s because I’m used to thick, unctuous lip balms packed with ingredients like petrolatum, which lock in moisture but don’t do much else.
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Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 21 June 2024
Avoid thicker, more unctuous types, like coconut oil, like the plague.
—Tish Weinstock, Vogue, 2 July 2024
The first was loud, deep and unctuous, the second was casual — until money came up.
—Jesse McKinley, New York Times, 2 May 2024
These two Heraclea varieties (available in a convenient bundle) ought to cover all your EVOO bases: The light and peppery Early blend is best for dipping and garnishing, while Mature, a milder and pleasantly unctuous oil, is great for marinades, baking, and cooking.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unctuous 
Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 21 June 2024
Avoid thicker, more unctuous types, like coconut oil, like the plague.
—Tish Weinstock, Vogue, 2 July 2024
The first was loud, deep and unctuous, the second was casual — until money came up.
—Jesse McKinley, New York Times, 2 May 2024
These two Heraclea varieties (available in a convenient bundle) ought to cover all your EVOO bases: The light and peppery Early blend is best for dipping and garnishing, while Mature, a milder and pleasantly unctuous oil, is great for marinades, baking, and cooking.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unctuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unctuous
Adjective
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The source of those flames: a Christmas celebration that climaxes with ten helicopters dropping fake snow on the partygoers, a stunt that turns out to be a bad idea because of strong winds and some not-up-to-code fire extinguishers.Keith Phipps, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
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After 1935, duck and goose hunters were limited to fake decoys.Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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These oily fish contain omega-3 fatty acids and are good sources of protein, vitamins, selenium, and calcium.Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
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Wild rose, vitamin C, rosehip oil Best For: Suited for dry, oily, normal, and combination skin types, the cream most effectively targets uneven texture.Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Should East have pulled his partner’s second double to five clubs?Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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After a fourth-down stop by Northwood’s defense, Keith capitalized on excellent field position by lofting a 12-yard TD to Brennan, who beat double coverage.Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024
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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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
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Also, lip skin is thinner, making blood vessels more apparent.Scott LaFee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024
Adjective
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Next she was wrenched the other way in a sickening, 180° roll, and one of the crew members tumbled down the almost-vertical deck and vanished in the sea.Orval C. Johnson, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2024
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What was sickening about being there in person was watching the Trump fans around me and realizing that there was nothing shocking about it to them.Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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This stands in contrast to the often superficial engagements seen on mainstream platforms.Gary Weinstein, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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Although more superficial aspects of his middle-eastern culture of 2,000 years ago contrast sharply with our western-capitalist society, other, deeper aspects of the two eras are eerily similar.Leslie Smith Reeves Faith Matters, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The lifelong New Yorker explained his decision to pack up for Florida in a 2019 post on the social platform X, citing taxes and his strained relationships with state and local leaders.Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
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In addition, there will need to be some serious operational improvements to remedy the company’s strained relationship with many current and former customers.Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2024
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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 23 Nov. 2024.
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