OILS Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

oils 1 of 2

noun

plural of oil

as in paintings

a picture created with oil paint that artist is known to have created only oils and charcoal sketches

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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

If towels are feeling stiff, give them a deep clean to remove any lingering detergent or oils. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026 Licorice root extract brings soothing and brightening benefits, and a nourishing blend of sunflower, sweet almond, moringa, and rice germ oils, plus shea butter, softens dry skin and seals in moisture. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 15 Aug. 2026 The best kits with oils and lotions can rise to $150, and those containing high-quality straight razors might cost as much as $200. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026 Futuredew is a skin care-makeup hybrid that delivers sheer coverage while hydrating your face with squalane, hyaluronic acid, and a blend of jojoba, grapeseed, evening primrose, and rosehip oils. — Grace Scollo, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026 But a much easier way to do this is to use a laundry detergent with enzymes that target odors and oils. — Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026 Fats are found in foods like butter, oils, nuts, meat, and fish. — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 7 Aug. 2026 Its products include fuel for cars, jet fuel and a wide range of oils. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026 Natural treatments include pruning affected areas, spraying with water, applying rubbing alcohol, or using horticultural oils. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 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 open-air rock shelters and towering sandstone cliffs are living canvases of ancient paintings from the Upper Paleolithic Period to the Neolithic (50,000–8,000 bce).

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
The consignment is expected to anchor the upcoming auction season and includes paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and others.

— Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition 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.

— Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
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.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026

Definition of greases

Noun

Few works in the show are titled, boxes filled with objects remain closed (one is even tightly wrapped in cellophane), and canvases are stacked one atop the other like pizza boxes—content and images concealed.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
The open-air rock shelters and towering sandstone cliffs are living canvases of ancient paintings from the Upper Paleolithic Period to the Neolithic (50,000–8,000 bce).

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026