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
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
Touch screens are the worst, thanks to the constant exposure to our oily fingers.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
It can be caused by a number of different triggers, including certain medical conditions, hair care habits, dry scalp, hormone fluctuations, overproduction of a naturally-occurring yeast on the scalp and oily skin.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
The lightweight moisturizer with SPF 50 protection leaves a gorgeous glow and no white cast on my combination, oily skin.
—Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 3 Sep. 2025
The researchers also noted a significant reduction in sebum— an oily substance that contributes to acne—of more than 40 percent by day seven.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
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Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
It can be caused by a number of different triggers, including certain medical conditions, hair care habits, dry scalp, hormone fluctuations, overproduction of a naturally-occurring yeast on the scalp and oily skin.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
The lightweight moisturizer with SPF 50 protection leaves a gorgeous glow and no white cast on my combination, oily skin.
—Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 3 Sep. 2025
The researchers also noted a significant reduction in sebum— an oily substance that contributes to acne—of more than 40 percent by day seven.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oily. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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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