as in painting
a picture created with oil paint
that artist is known to have created only oils and charcoal sketches
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of oil
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
In January, Michigan sued major oil companies, including ExxonMobil and BP, accusing them of collusion related to fossil fuels and climate change.
—Taylor Millard, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Iman Balagam, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
And also to oil a narrative first perfected by Fidel Castro and then by Chávez himself – both leaders in the Latin American left.
—Inés Capdevila, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oil
Noun
Besides the cooling, calming eucalyptus oil, the cream also contains soybean and linseed oil to deeply moisturize the skin and leave it looking baby smooth, with no signs of dry patches, flakes, or redness in sight.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
In January, Michigan sued major oil companies, including ExxonMobil and BP, accusing them of collusion related to fossil fuels and climate change.
—Taylor Millard, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Mohapi adds that oiling a dry scalp works best before washing, not after.
—Iman Balagam, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
And also to oil a narrative first perfected by Fidel Castro and then by Chávez himself – both leaders in the Latin American left.
—Inés Capdevila, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oil
Noun
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Also, there’s something vaguely familiar about seeing Nam atop a horse — was this video in any way inspired by his time pretending to be a cow during the show’s paintings challenge?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
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But rather than depict a childhood of adversity, her paintings empower the kids within them to claim their own space, imbuing her memories with strength and light.—
Claire Salinda,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Without taking away from Newsom’s work ethic, this memoir cannot help underlining how much his smooth upward assent has been greased by family connections.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Later, as a young adult, she was accepted to the MFA program at Columbia with similar works before pivoting her focus to larger-scale canvas.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
1 Mar. 2026
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De Monteflores’s canvases, including Four Women (1969), remain uncannily modern nearly 60 years after they were made.—
Julie Belcove,
Robb Report,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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