as in painting
a picture created with oil paint
that artist is known to have created only oils and charcoal sketches
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of oil
Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Gas prices have fallen toward $4 per gallon in recent weeks, nearing the milestone as oil costs have eased in response to negotiations between the United States and Iran.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 June 2026
Varun Shankar, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
As with other criminal syndicates, the cartel has long oiled the gears of corruption with bribes.
—Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oil
Noun
Profits from gas and oil have been pumped into the development of a leisure infrastructure to tempt tourists and drive business to local companies.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Gas prices have fallen toward $4 per gallon in recent weeks, nearing the milestone as oil costs have eased in response to negotiations between the United States and Iran.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 June 2026
Verb
Getting a wing who can defend, shoot and dribble adequately would have oiled the cogs of an often clunky offense.
—Varun Shankar, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
As with other criminal syndicates, the cartel has long oiled the gears of corruption with bribes.
—Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oil
Noun
-
This popular outdoor festival brings together hundreds of local artists showcasing everything from paintings and photography to jewelry and handmade crafts.—
Kayla Rivera,
AJC.com,
16 June 2026
-
For Edelstein, her paintings provide an opportunity to connect with audiences which is distinct from her Hollywood endeavors.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
And heaven knows there are means in Silicon Valley to grease some skids.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Recipes often call for greasing the pan with a thin layer of fat (and sometimes dusting it with flour, cocoa powder or sugar) to help the cake release from the baking pan.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Designers from every nation get to project pride, identity and ideals onto the blank canvas of the team kit.—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
-
At once simply practical and deeply nostalgic, the canvas sneaker remains a summertime staple today, with worthy editions available from SeaVees, Sperry, Morjas and more makers below.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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