oils 1 of 2

Definition of oilsnext
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
Dirt, oils, and moisture cling more stubbornly, meaning mildew is more likely to develop. Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026 Formulated with natural ingredients such as shea butter, oils, and extracts to hydrate, define, and protect hair, these products work well for braids, wash-and-gos, and twist-outs. Kieaundria Bellamy, InStyle, 21 Feb. 2026 Many products that feature oils and butters can be heavy on my hair, but this hydrating shampoo wasn’t. Jamie Wilson, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2026 These can collect dust, sweat, and body oils throughout long winter nights. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2026 These oils have additives that help slow oil leaks. Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026 The beans themselves will look light brown with a more matte surface, since the oils present in the beans have less time to work their way to the surface. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026 Its natural emollients seals in moisture—especially when paired with other plant oils like grapeseed or almond—leaving skin comfortable and supple rather than greasy. Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026 Itchiness Lower levels of estrogen can cause a decrease in the production of collagen and natural oils. Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
Ramakrishnan typically oils her hair twice a week before washing it. Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oils
Noun
  • The exhibit includes 22 of her paintings depicting worship, work and community.
    Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
  • To be able to host our nominees at the National Gallery in front of Caravaggio [paintings] is an amazing thing to be able to do.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
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
  • From the arched shelves displaying thread, canvases and pins inside the small shop to the paint on the walls and exterior of the business, nothing has been accomplished alone.
    Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Like a memory, his geometric canvases unfurl to display the agony of living through ceaseless violence and death.
    Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 16 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oils. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

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!