oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
a
: covered or impregnated with oil
oily rags
b
: relatively high in naturally secreted oils
oily skin
oily hair
3
: excessively smooth or suave in manner
Synonyms
Examples of oily in a Sentence
The liquid has an oily feel.
a pile of oily rags
The salad dressing was very oily.
Recent Examples on the Web
The prison guards brought her a milky porridge with a piece of oily fish that sickened her.
—
J Wortham, New York Times, 2 May 2024
Oily stools, intestinal gas with oily and fecal discharge, and diarrhea of a surprising urgency are all distinct possibilities.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 30 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oily 
J Wortham, New York Times, 2 May 2024
Oily stools, intestinal gas with oily and fecal discharge, and diarrhea of a surprising urgency are all distinct possibilities.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 30 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oily
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oily.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near oily
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oily. Accessed 8 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oily
adjective
oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
a
: covered or soaked with oil
b
: high in oils that are naturally produced
oily skin
oiliness
noun
Medical Definition
oily
adjective
oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
: excessively high in naturally secreted oils
oily hair
oily skin
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