as in soapy
overly or insincerely flattering
an executive who surrounds herself with oily, sycophantic assistants
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oily
Bonjour Witch Hazel No Sebum Sun Shield, $16 This vegan, 100% physical sunscreen is designed for oily, combination and sensitive skin types.
—
Kristen Philipkoski, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Best Spray Photograph: Kristin Canning Cutter Backwoods Dry Insect Repellent
$9
Amazon
This DEET spray goes on evenly in a fine mist and dries down to a nice, only slightly oily finish.
—Kristin Canning, Wired News, 21 May 2025
The finish is pleasantly warming, leaving a luscious, oily texture that lingers.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Whereas hydrating primers are made with hydrating ingredients, primers for oily skin will often include ingredients like oil-absorbing powders and exfoliants.
—Danielle Jackson, Vogue, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Kristen Philipkoski, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Best Spray Photograph: Kristin Canning Cutter Backwoods Dry Insect Repellent
$9
Amazon
This DEET spray goes on evenly in a fine mist and dries down to a nice, only slightly oily finish.
—Kristin Canning, Wired News, 21 May 2025
The finish is pleasantly warming, leaving a luscious, oily texture that lingers.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Whereas hydrating primers are made with hydrating ingredients, primers for oily skin will often include ingredients like oil-absorbing powders and exfoliants.
—Danielle Jackson, Vogue, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oily
Adjective
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When Rudd, 55, appeared on Fallon's late night show to promote his new A24 movie Death of a Unicorn on Thursday, March 27, Fallon, 50, noted that Rudd has performed in just about every genre of film, television and theater one could imagine — except for the soapiest of soap operas.—
Tommy McArdle,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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There is just cause for the soapier parts: Manet was married, and Morisot wed his brother.—
Julie Belcove,
Robb Report,
23 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The Queens Botanical Garden’s annual Pride event will feature DJ music, after-hours access to the garden and sickening drag performances by Nani Tsunami and Janae SaisQuoi.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2025
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But the defense is hoping to cast her recollections merely as sickening details in a deranged love story between two consenting and jealous adults.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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One defense, beginning in the late eighteen-hundreds, was flypaper, sheets of which were coated on one side with an oleaginous substance that lured flies, then permanently trapped them.—
David Owen,
The New Yorker,
27 July 2024
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At any moment, the noodles might dissolve, the cheese topping burn, the dish collapse into a soggy, oleaginous mess.—
Isaac Butler,
The New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2023
Adjective
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At times, the display of closeness felt a bit unctuous, as when Musk praised Trump for his gold-heavy interior design makeover of the Oval Office.—
Niall Stanage,
The Hill,
30 May 2025
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The frenzied yet articulate tenor Gerhard Siegel, a veteran Herod, oozes unctuous entitlement.—
Zachary Woolfe,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That unspoken contract between gore-hungry viewers and the film is mostly forged by Christien Tinsley, the makeup effects artist whose gushy prosthetics are shown off at every turn.—
Joshua Rothkopf,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Oct. 2024
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The chatter has only grown in recent days, after Ms. Anderson — who just celebrated a birthday — posted a story on her Instagram account, showing a lavish bouquet of flowers and a gushy card from an admirer.—
Jesse McKinley,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Photo Gallery Feeling the heat, George accepts an offer to take the lead in a largely fictional and completely hagiographic biopic of (current) Egyptian President Al-Sisi.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
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Feeling the heat, George accepts an offer to take the lead in a largely fictional and completely hagiographic biopic of (current) Egyptian president Al-Sisi.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Passionate about helping people lead financially abundant lives through real estate.—
Neil Anders,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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This creates a direct relationship between energy innovation and AI capabilities; regions with abundant, reliable, and affordable energy will gain decisive advantages in computational power.—
Aya Saed,
Time,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oily. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
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