: smoothly functioning
a well-oiled political machine

Examples of well-oiled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Hogs did get out to a fast start, looking well-oiled for a first outing inside Walker Pavilion on a dreary day outside in Northwest Arkansas. Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 10 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'well-oiled.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of well-oiled was in 1817

Dictionary Entries Near well-oiled

Cite this Entry

“Well-oiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/well-oiled. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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