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
Soak cotton balls in oils and other liquids, and place them in small dishes around your home. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026 In fact, thanks to more time spent indoors with closed windows, your bedding is likely harboring even more body oils, skin cells, and potential allergens than in other seasons. Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 5 Jan. 2026 Fats such as butter, oils, and those found in nuts can be hard to digest and may move quickly through your intestine, leading to diarrhea. Mary Nolan-Pleckham, Verywell Health, 5 Jan. 2026 Shop my four go-to hair oils that grew my hair in four weeks, below. Jailynn Taylor, InStyle, 4 Jan. 2026 As a result of these efforts, our Beef Tallow Fries are now completely free of seed oils. Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026 Liquid plant oils, especially extra-virgin olive oil, have strong evidence behind them. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026 Rice bran and rosemary extracts deliver antioxidant protection, while sunflower and lupin seed oils target dryness from another angle—deeply nourishing to leave lips soft, conditioned, and visibly healthier. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 9 Nov. 2025 Brushing prevents matting, promotes a healthy coat by dispersing natural oils and removes dead hair. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oils
Noun
  • Her paintings have been represented by galleries in New York, Barcelona, and Bombay and are part of private collections worldwide.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
  • These colorful, geometric paintings are similar to murals, but instead of adorning urban buildings, the blocks are more of a rural sighting, typically taking residence on barns and sheds.
    Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 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
  • Lacking funds, Rainer began to trawl the city’s local flea markets for old paintings, which were cheaper to buy than fresh canvases.
    News Desk, Artforum, 23 Dec. 2025
  • For centuries, painters had primed canvases, building up layers of thick pigment and glaze to create the illusion of luminosity and depth.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Oils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oils. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

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