as in soapy
overly or insincerely flattering
an executive who surrounds herself with oily, sycophantic assistants
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oily
For most people, the idea might trigger fears of buildup, bacteria, oily skin, and breakouts.
—
Lauryn Higgins, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Dip a salted, buttery or oily crouton in that chocolate fountain instead and thank me later.
—Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
But a sunscreen formulated specifically for oily skin can make the daily habit a lot easier to stick with.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 26 Apr. 2025
Dermalogica Clear Start Cooling Aqua Jelly Dermalogica’s Clear Start Cooling Aqua Jelly is a lightweight gel moisturizer that hydrates oily skin without the shine.
—Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Lauryn Higgins, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Dip a salted, buttery or oily crouton in that chocolate fountain instead and thank me later.
—Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
But a sunscreen formulated specifically for oily skin can make the daily habit a lot easier to stick with.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 26 Apr. 2025
Dermalogica Clear Start Cooling Aqua Jelly Dermalogica’s Clear Start Cooling Aqua Jelly is a lightweight gel moisturizer that hydrates oily skin without the shine.
—Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 24 Apr. 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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For years, raw sewage from Mexico has poured across the border into Southern California, fouling beaches, sickening residents and sparking diplomatic as well as environmental concerns.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 May 2025
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And once the sickening jolts of the combat takeoff had ended and Bui slowly grew accustomed to the noise and the pressure of the C-130, the taste of KFC stopped his crying.—
Jennifer Brookland,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 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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The frenzied yet articulate tenor Gerhard Siegel, a veteran Herod, oozes unctuous entitlement.—
Zachary Woolfe,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Then Maddy unexpectedly turns on the humor and charm when Austin’s Hollywood agent Saul — played with unctuous insincerity by Dave Rivas — arrives to talk business.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 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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Columbus was a stand-in for the nation’s hagiographic origin story, much like the Mayflower or its Western pioneers.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
28 Apr. 2025
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Likewise, Hollywood stars were adored in hagiographic terms.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Eastern quolls were once abundant in southeast Australia.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
1 May 2025
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And such opportunities are abundant even when resources are scarce.—
Eric Crosby,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oily. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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