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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to facilitate
to free from obstruction or difficulty
your help might grease the complicated adoption proceedings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grease
The Crew Module side hatch cover is removed, and the seals are greased, cleaned and inspected before the 500-pound hatch door is shut and latched using special tools, including a socket wrench and ratchet.
—
Miles Doran, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for grease
Miles Doran, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for grease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grease
Verb
-
The setting is oiled by a drinks program that continues the marine theme, with cocktails using kelp infusions and botanicals from the Mount Nelson gardens.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The order facilitates research, encourages interagency coordination and creates a pathway for psychedelic therapies that have been difficult to study under existing regulatory constraints.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Born in a small town in southern China, Yang is among a new crop of young bicultural producers and directors facilitating the transfer of Chinese duanju to the rest of the world.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Look to the eastern sky at midday on April 22 to find the 30%-lit waxing crescent moon close to the horizon, with its lower half hidden in shadow.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The early-setting, waxing crescent moon will provide a perfectly dark sky in the evening.—
Avni Trivedi,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Water Drinking an adequate amount of water daily has been shown to help lower blood sugar levels, lubricate your joints, and benefit your overall health.—
Laura Schober,
Health,
20 Apr. 2026
-
And cheap Guinness pours only lubricate the mystique.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Blot — don’t rub — and avoid over-wetting the mattress, which can lead to mold growth if moisture gets trapped inside.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Water at the base of plants instead of wetting the entire garden with a sprinkler or hose.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grease. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
