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
Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
The event was seen as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a major international film and TV hub, which in turn was a pole of the country’s 2030 strategy aimed at opening the country up and shifting the economy away from a reliance on oil.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 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
Ukrainian drones now pummel industrial targets across Russia nightly, shutting down oil refineries, snarling logistics, and forcing airports to close for days at a time.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
The event was seen as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a major international film and TV hub, which in turn was a pole of the country’s 2030 strategy aimed at opening the country up and shifting the economy away from a reliance on oil.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 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
-
Baer beautifully evokes paintings inspired by the work of outsider artist Henry Darger.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
Adam and Eve After Cranach, 1971, an acrylic diptych modeled on Lucas Cranach the Elder’s 1526 painting of the titular couple.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
These blue-chip benefactors serve as wrappers, lending AAA ratings to grease the lending gears.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
2 June 2026
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The glass container has a pour spout and a spray nozzle so users can fill it up with the oil of their choice to grease pans or top dips.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
The Scolding, 1965, a claustrophobic portrait of jaundiced and blotchy figures watching a contretemps, has some of the unsettling atmosphere of James Ensor’s 1890 canvas The Intrigue, in which a clutch of masked figures presses in on the viewer.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Undoubtedly Oslo’s most attractive contemporary hangout for summer, watching color-shifting cloudscapes and islands blur like a Munch canvas from the rooftop terrace.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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