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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
The stabilizing device featured a 400-ton concrete block on a film of oil that would slide in the opposite direction to the building’s motion to counteract swaying. Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025 The White House has clumsily proposed sanctions on India for massive purchases of cheap Russian oil, but not yet imposed them on Russia’s biggest customer, China. Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
Dorothy had her hair done, The Tinman got oiled up, The Scarecrow got brand new straws, and The Cowardly Lion had his mane curled and his claws clipped. Debbi Kickham, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 Rather than focusing on which oils to consume, the focal point should be a person's overall diet, says Christopher Gardner, a nutrition scientist and professor of medicine at Stanford University. Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for oil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oil
Noun
  • Shop for antiques, clothing, birdhouses, leather, mid-century furniture, paintings, cutting boards, and more.
    Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Its spacious white walls are perfect for hanging the artist’s large-scale, wildly inventive paintings: colorful, cultural mash-ups where Japanese references seamlessly blend with silhouettes from fashion and lifestyle magazines.
    Thessaly La Force, Architectural Digest, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • That greases the skids of trust and softens skepticism.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch rimmed sheet pan and line the bottom and sides with parchment paper.
    Cathy Thomas, Mercury News, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • From seahorses and sunsets to custom canvases, the goal is to create something meaningful—and maybe learn a bit about local art along the way.
    Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The campaign underscores denim as foundation to women’s wardrobes and a canvas for personal style.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 15 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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