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oil

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verb

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

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 oil
Noun
West Texas Intermediate, a grade or mix of crude oil, was trading Monday at more than $61 a barrel, up from a few days ago. Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025 But Russian President Vladimir Putin said the sanctions could backfire by increasing oil prices, including at the pumps for consumers in the West. Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
Push tortilla rounds into muffin wells, oiled side down, to make little cups. 3. Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025 When making thin-crust pizzas, avoid oiling or greasing the pan; instead, sprinkle some cornmeal or semolina to prevent sticking. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oil
Noun
  • Workers were still fixing up the basement — which needed new flooring, drywall, painting and electrical — as designers installed decorations in the house in mid-October.
    Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Festivities also include face painting, sugar skull decorating and paper flower workshop along with a lowrider car show by the Callejeros de Encinitas Car Club, artist demonstrations, vendors and food truck.
    Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Lightly grease three ¾-inch-wide whisk or wooden spoon handles.
    Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Tricks like these can be taught to employees—Saft now has twelve—just as he was once taught how to expedite orders and scrub grease off a grill.
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The middle frames offered dueling canvasses for the starting pitchers.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
  • For centuries, the moon has captivated our imagination, serving as a celestial companion and a canvas for scientific discovery.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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