as in soapy
overly or insincerely flattering
an executive who surrounds herself with oily, sycophantic assistants
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oily
Residents in Tehran complained last week of burning eyes and difficulty breathing when the dark and oily precipitation fell near the Iranian capital after several fuel oil depots and a refinery were struck.
—
Tammy Webber, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
Instead, opt for pore-minimizing setting powder on just your T-zone or oily areas at the end of your routine.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
If there are oily marks, smudges or water spots on your sensor, this method is particularly useful.
—Jacob Little, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Some residents described a thick, oily film covering cars and rooftops, The New York Times reported.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oily
Tammy Webber, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
Instead, opt for pore-minimizing setting powder on just your T-zone or oily areas at the end of your routine.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
If there are oily marks, smudges or water spots on your sensor, this method is particularly useful.
—Jacob Little, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Some residents described a thick, oily film covering cars and rooftops, The New York Times reported.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oily
Adjective
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There’s a lovely, gentle soapy smell throughout the hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
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Wash the carafe and filter basket with warm, soapy water before using the machine again.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Thanks to Epperson’s goal from the front-left side of the crease in the second OT, the Pioneers avoided a sickening taste of déjà vu.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
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Every repeat viewing of Abraham's performance reveals some new moment of humiliation — some fresh sickening glimmer of anguish that feels all too familiar.—
Devan Coggan,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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His widow doesn’t exactly look too broken up; less than a week after his death, Lee spots her snuggling with Dale’s brother Donald, an oleaginous candidate for governor played by Kyle MacLachlan.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
23 Sep. 2025
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One defense, beginning in the late eighteen-hundreds, was flypaper, sheets of which were coated on one side with an oleaginous substance that lured flies, then permanently trapped them.—
David Owen,
The New Yorker,
27 July 2024
Adjective
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For the richest, densest, most unctuous quiche, choose heavy cream.—
Georgeanne Brennan,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Then, there’s Agatha (Wasikowska) dropping into town seemingly from the sky to enact a grand plan involving her estranged family, self-help guru Stafford Weiss (Cusack), and her unctuous showbiz mom (Williams, making the case that Lady Macbeth really could’ve just used a damn cigarette).—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Social Security Administration sent a gushy, questionable email July 4 to millions of people collecting Social Security benefits and others.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
21 July 2025
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The chatter has only grown in recent days, after Ms. Anderson — who just celebrated a birthday — posted a story on her Instagram account, showing a lavish bouquet of flowers and a gushy card from an admirer.—
Jesse McKinley,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But all the myth and sorrow around the dynasty mean many takes tilt hagiographic.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026
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The Gracious Visionary is a rather hagiographic film title for one’s life and work.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Bok globules are abundant throughout all gas-rich and dust-rich galaxies, and can be found in many different locations in our own Milky Way.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
26 Mar. 2026
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But the political red flags are abundant right now for Republicans.—
Craig Gilbert,
jsonline.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oily. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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