1
as in to oil
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
make sure you grease the pan before you put the batter in
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to facilitate
to free from obstruction or difficulty
your help might grease the complicated adoption proceedings
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grease
Scott used comedy to grease the narrative wheels; here, the laughs tend to gum up the works.
—
Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2026
In reality, according to a person with knowledge of the deal, Tal greased an employee from Griffin’s office to get the boss’s number, then called him incessantly.
—James D. Walsh, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026
So, yes, the speeds and feeds are all greased up for quick performance.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026
Maher stepped into this role, Rhule said, in part to grease the tracks for the 27-year-old Humphrey to eventually take the position.
—Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grease
Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2026
In reality, according to a person with knowledge of the deal, Tal greased an employee from Griffin’s office to get the boss’s number, then called him incessantly.
—James D. Walsh, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026
So, yes, the speeds and feeds are all greased up for quick performance.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026
Maher stepped into this role, Rhule said, in part to grease the tracks for the 27-year-old Humphrey to eventually take the position.
—Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grease
Verb
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Immediately oil the entire board (all six sides) and apply a food-safe beeswax cream to seal in moisture.—
Staff Author,
Martha Stewart,
31 Mar. 2026
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When the first suitor failed to bend the bow in order to string it, Antinous rebuked him and had a fire made up to warm lard with which to oil the bow.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The colleagues who facilitated his ouster accuse him of a degree of deception that is untenable for any executive and dangerous for a leader of such a transformative technology.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Rather than handing off a 60-slide deck, the agency facilitates direct conversations between brands and creators during the briefing process.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the Pakistani-American relationship has waxed and waned over time.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Look to the southern sky as darkness falls on March 27 to see the thickening form of the waxing gibbous moon glowing close to the stars of the Beehive Cluster (M44) at the heart of the constellation Cancer, the crab.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jubail in eastern Saudi Arabia is home to one of the world's largest industrial cities, where steel, gasoline, petrochemicals, lubricating oil and chemical fertilizers are produced.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Phthalates also help lubricate substances and carry fragrances in personal care products, including deodorants; nail polishes; perfumes; hair gels, sprays or shampoos; soaps; and body lotions.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Then hose it down with a garden hose to fully wet the rug.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
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Use a garden hose to fully wet the rug.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grease. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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