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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 move includes rolling back emission regulations on coal, oil and gas production and reevaluating government findings that determined that greenhouse gas emissions heat the planet and are a threat to public health, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025 The legislation would also levy a 500% tariff on countries that purchase Russian oil or natural gas. David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
Use an oil mister or a pastry brush to oil the plates, which will prevent the overuse of oil and keep excess oil from building up on the grid plates. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2025 But oiling the wheels of commerce wasn’t for him. Sean Gregory / Boston, TIME, 27 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oil
Noun
  • Part of Michelangelo's ceiling paintings, the fresco depicts God giving life to Adam.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Kanye's previous paintings have exhibited a running theme of smiling and joy throughout, Silva said.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • McKinley worked quietly behind the scenes in his usual way to grease the skids for an annexation treaty.
    Robert W. Merry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The latter also perpetuates a reliance on extractive industries, keeping the metaphorical wheels greased on the fossil fuel industry rather than encouraging it to begin winding down.
    Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Dirty, creased, scuffed—each pair is a living canvas for the person wearing them.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • This technique provides you with a workable canvas, scaled to the size of your image files, and thus will preserve the resolution.
    Josh Dury, Space.com, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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