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 sunscreen is a great match for dry, oily, and combination skin, as well as complexions predisposed to breakouts and rosacea.
—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
23 June 2026
Fatty Fish Fatty or oily fish are fish and other seafood that naturally store oil all over their bodies, including their tissues and around their guts.
—
Joy Emeh,
Health,
22 June 2026
Played with oily charisma by Murray Hamilton, the character is still booed to this day.
—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 June 2026
Firstly, my non-negotiable is that the formula has to actually preserve my makeup despite my hyper-oily complexion.
—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for oily
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Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
23 June 2026
Fatty Fish Fatty or oily fish are fish and other seafood that naturally store oil all over their bodies, including their tissues and around their guts.
—
Joy Emeh,
Health,
22 June 2026
Played with oily charisma by Murray Hamilton, the character is still booed to this day.
—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 June 2026
Firstly, my non-negotiable is that the formula has to actually preserve my makeup despite my hyper-oily complexion.
—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
18 June 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 26 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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