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
Also, people with more oily skin may want to use a product that is more mattifying, instead of snail mucin, which is very hydrating.
—
USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Fry to try: The thin, crispy shoestring-potato Fancy Fries ($7) are topped with parsley and Parmesan shavings — scented with garlic but without the oily slick of some garlic fries.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Apply it to the driest parts of your hair and gently massage it onto the scalp, but avoid putting too much if your scalp tends to be oily.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
Those with an oily skin type tend to have excess sebum, which can lead to buildup under the skin, and thus, acne.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2024
Redway says those with naturally oily scalps will especially benefit from dry shampoo use to soak up the oils.
—Ana Morales, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2024
But not every Swayze character is oily in such a desirable way.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
Roughly 1,050 pounds of oily waste, sand and tar balls were also removed from the shoreline, and one aquatic diving bird with oil on it was recovered, according to the Coast Guard.
—Taylor Romine, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024
Now toner usually refers to liquid formulations geared toward oily skin that's in need of gentle exfoliation and resurfacing.
—Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024
USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Fry to try: The thin, crispy shoestring-potato Fancy Fries ($7) are topped with parsley and Parmesan shavings — scented with garlic but without the oily slick of some garlic fries.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Apply it to the driest parts of your hair and gently massage it onto the scalp, but avoid putting too much if your scalp tends to be oily.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
Those with an oily skin type tend to have excess sebum, which can lead to buildup under the skin, and thus, acne.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2024
Redway says those with naturally oily scalps will especially benefit from dry shampoo use to soak up the oils.
—Ana Morales, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2024
But not every Swayze character is oily in such a desirable way.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
Roughly 1,050 pounds of oily waste, sand and tar balls were also removed from the shoreline, and one aquatic diving bird with oil on it was recovered, according to the Coast Guard.
—Taylor Romine, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024
Now toner usually refers to liquid formulations geared toward oily skin that's in need of gentle exfoliation and resurfacing.
—Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024
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.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of oily was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near oily
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oily. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on oily
Nglish: Translation of oily for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of oily for Arabic Speakers
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