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
Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
In reality, Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s Vice President and oil minister, was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim President on Jan. 5.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 12 Jan. 2026
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
Lightly oil a large baking sheet.
—CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oil
Noun
Cuba lost its main oil source after the U.S. attacked Venezuela on January 3, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and killing 32 Cuban military officers.
—Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
In reality, Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s Vice President and oil minister, was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim President on Jan. 5.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
Lightly oil a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
Lightly oil a large baking sheet.
—CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oil
Noun
-
The humans in his paintings tend to be solemn, mysterious, and often on journeys to locations unknown.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The exhibition includes a selection of Farber’s largest tabletop paintings created between 1985 and his final year of work in 2007.—
La Jolla Light,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Thoroughly grease a 9-inch (23-centimeter) nonstick springform pan with coconut oil and line the bottom with parchment paper.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Foil can stick or tear without greasing.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Vigil seems to give you a wide canvas in which to explore that theme.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Rothko needed to fill a room with his canvases; Feldman needed to fill an evening with his music.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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