as in paintings
a picture created with oil paint
that artist is known to have created only oils and charcoal sketches
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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.
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Recent Examples of oils
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
This process turns waste fats, oils, and greases into renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
Its heavy nature also causes oils to build up in pores, causing acne and breakouts, which other established moisturizing ingredients, like ceramides, petrolatum, squalene, glycerin and shea butter, are less likely to do.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Use something that contains hydrating ingredients and is mild and fragrance-free, to avoid allergic reactions and stripping the natural oils that help maintain skin's barrier function.
—
Kelle Walsh,
NPR,
18 June 2026
If the wash is too short, too cold, or overloaded, oils and odors remain in the fabric.
—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 June 2026
Like many of the best Korean cleansing oils, Manyo's Pure Cleansing Oil is a dream for dry skin.
—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
18 June 2026
The result is a deep, effective cleanse that respects the scalp’s natural oils—especially important for those with dry skin—creating a more balanced environment where hair can thrive from roots to ends.
—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
18 June 2026
Dawn dish soap is typically a great option that can lift sweat and oils without damaging the material.
—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
12 June 2026
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
Body oils, dead skin, dirt, soap scum, mineral deposits, hard water stains, and mold can stick to the walls, door, grout, and floor, leaving a grimy film.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
This process turns waste fats, oils, and greases into renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
Its heavy nature also causes oils to build up in pores, causing acne and breakouts, which other established moisturizing ingredients, like ceramides, petrolatum, squalene, glycerin and shea butter, are less likely to do.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Use something that contains hydrating ingredients and is mild and fragrance-free, to avoid allergic reactions and stripping the natural oils that help maintain skin's barrier function.
—
Kelle Walsh,
NPR,
18 June 2026
If the wash is too short, too cold, or overloaded, oils and odors remain in the fabric.
—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 June 2026
Like many of the best Korean cleansing oils, Manyo's Pure Cleansing Oil is a dream for dry skin.
—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
18 June 2026
The result is a deep, effective cleanse that respects the scalp’s natural oils—especially important for those with dry skin—creating a more balanced environment where hair can thrive from roots to ends.
—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
18 June 2026
Dawn dish soap is typically a great option that can lift sweat and oils without damaging the material.
—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
12 June 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
-
In a previous life, the wooden crate had been used by artist Robert Rauschenberg, widely regarded as the father of assemblage art in the United States, to house and transport his paintings before Basquiat incorporated it into his own work.
-
The journey from 1600 to 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue To humanize the presidency amid the height of World War II, Stephen Early, Roosevelt’s press secretary, commissioned Rockwell to create the suite of paintings.
Verb
-
View this post on Instagram Access greases the gears of the entire apparatus by creating its own positive feedback loop, like an ouroboros of exclusivity.
-
No eyeball-grabbing videos, no partisan commentary or agenda, and none of the edge or snark that greases the gears of the perpetual-political-outrage machine.
Noun
-
Some 16 Picasso canvases have sold for more than $50 million, according to art analytics firm ARTDAI.
-
In the gallery, rich, bright colors burst off the canvases, at once joyful and unsettling.
Cite this Entry
“Oils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oils. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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