as in painting
a picture created with oil paint
that artist is known to have created only oils and charcoal sketches
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to grease
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
if you oil the machinery on a regular basis, it will operate more efficiently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oil
Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
The spot price of Brent crude, the international standard for oil prices, was above $94 on Saturday, up more than 30% since the war started.
—Munir Ahmed, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Prevent rust by cleaning cast iron right after cooking, drying it thoroughly, and oiling it every time.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oil
Noun
Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz has largely cut off the Persian Gulf and its oil and gas exports from the global economy, sending energy prices soaring.
—Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
The spot price of Brent crude, the international standard for oil prices, was above $94 on Saturday, up more than 30% since the war started.
—Munir Ahmed, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
Routine Maintenance for Your Butcher Block Keeping butcher block properly oiled is one of the best ways to protect it from wear and bacteria.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Prevent rust by cleaning cast iron right after cooking, drying it thoroughly, and oiling it every time.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oil
Noun
-
In the painting, a wooden structure fits inside a larger space.—
Ludovica Stevan,
Architectural Digest,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Vendors at the Naperville location, which opened in 2020, sold everything from plants and cake mixes to women’s clothing and paintings.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No eyeball-grabbing videos, no partisan commentary or agenda, and none of the edge or snark that greases the gears of the perpetual-political-outrage machine.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
-
With the title in their grasp, the Ducks have greased up their fingers, fumbling into a four-game winless slump.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These assistants might mix paint pigments, stretch canvases and even help fill in certain details on paintings.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The shuttered mall turned into a canvas for graffiti artists after closing last year.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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