oils 1 of 2

plural of oil

oils

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of oil
as in greases
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 oils
Noun
Their process uses an inexpensive catalyst that selectively breaks down the most common single-use kind of plastics into liquid oils and waxes that can be upcycled into lubricants and fuels. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025 Even better, it’s packed with argan, macadamia, and jojoba oils for moisturization. Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025 This type of rash or breakout can be prevented by avoiding perfumes, colognes, citrus oils and other common triggers before going outside in the sun. Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025 Not deep-fried or marketed alongside the latest trend — who knows whether that sausage was brushed in tallow or if the cooks avoided seed oils for the flavorful vinaigrette on those tomatoes, those kaleidoscopic tomatoes. Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2025 Neither did the pills his doctor prescribed, nor the oils, serums, derma rollers or slew of other products desperate people in his situation so often turn to. Charles Trepany, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 By transforming ethanol into synthetic oils that can serve as HEFA feedstocks, the company’s technology could diversify and strengthen SAF production. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025 This makeup remover helps maintain hydration, thanks to tangerine peel extract, squalene, and a blend of traditional Korean oils such as pine nut oil, camellia seed oil, and plum seed oil. Iman Balagam, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2025 Body treatments and massages incorporate natural ingredients, such as local honey, Ayurvedic plant extracts, and seaweed oils. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oils
Noun
  • Longo is known for his photorealistic paintings and drawings, but many of his works are an amalgamation of images real, imagined, and tweaked.
    Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2025
  • This scuttles a compromise, whereby paintings of Lee in his prewar blue Army uniform could remain while the portrait of Lee the secessionist and enslaver came down.
    Time, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Judge and Schwarber would be dangerous against any league, but my point is that instead of two leagues with distinct rivalries and stars, baseball is now one big, generic blob, which only greases the skids for Manfred’s geographical realignment dream.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
  • That greases the skids of trust and softens skepticism.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Jacobs wrapped canvases around tree trunks in the woods on The Mount property, leaving them exposed to the elements for months or even years.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Guests at the celebration were also shown sipping wine and spending time in nature, including painting on canvases as a group.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oils. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on oils

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!