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
disapproving
a
: excessively smooth or suave in manner
b
: characterized by excessive smoothness or suaveness
"My dear friend," said the Chief Scribe in an oily voice …—
Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd AlexanderSynonyms of oily
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 palate showcases roasted agave, lemon peel, white pepper, and spices, all riding on a firm, oily texture that coats the mouth.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
While a thin layer can help support the skin barrier, overdoing thick zinc creams daily may feel too heavy for skin types and ironically, could clog pores in oily skin.
—Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 29 May 2026
The facility had an oily baffle filter above the char grill.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
Eventually, a wharf employee noticed one of the crates was leaking an oily substance.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for oily
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Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
While a thin layer can help support the skin barrier, overdoing thick zinc creams daily may feel too heavy for skin types and ironically, could clog pores in oily skin.
—Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 29 May 2026
The facility had an oily baffle filter above the char grill.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
Eventually, a wharf employee noticed one of the crates was leaking an oily substance.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for oily
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oily. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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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