as in oily
overly or insincerely flattering
a typically soapy introduction for the guest speaker at the organization's annual banquet
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Recent Examples of soapy
When Rudd, 55, appeared on Fallon's late night show to promote his new A24 movie Death of a Unicorn on Thursday, March 27, Fallon, 50, noted that Rudd has performed in just about every genre of film, television and theater one could imagine — except for the soapiest of soap operas.
—
Tommy McArdle, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
There is just cause for the soapier parts: Manet was married, and Morisot wed his brother.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024
The group that seems to have inspired Reid is Fleetwood Mac, which, with its shifting intramural love relationships, sundry drug problems and issues of control — the soapiest of rock’s many operas — was a romance novel/miniseries waiting to happen.
—Robert Lloydtelevision Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2023
Many non-dishwasher-safe portable blenders instead offer self-cleaning modes, which require you to blend a bit of soapy water before rinsing and drying them.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for soapy
Tommy McArdle, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
There is just cause for the soapier parts: Manet was married, and Morisot wed his brother.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024
The group that seems to have inspired Reid is Fleetwood Mac, which, with its shifting intramural love relationships, sundry drug problems and issues of control — the soapiest of rock’s many operas — was a romance novel/miniseries waiting to happen.
—Robert Lloydtelevision Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2023
Many non-dishwasher-safe portable blenders instead offer self-cleaning modes, which require you to blend a bit of soapy water before rinsing and drying them.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for soapy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soapy
Adjective
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Skip the oily fabric softeners and bleaches, which can leave fabric feeling waxy or rough.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
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Although the facade is cleaned regularly, no maintenance had occurred since January 1, and the hundreds of fireworks that had been projected off the face of the building had left behind an oily residue.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Similarly the vulnerability of Nancy Guthrie, an elderly woman described as having mobility problems, as a possible victim of a violent crime, is sickening and deeply uncomfortable.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
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To many of those who knew what went on inside the structure, the spectacle was sickening.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 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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The bun was buttery and slightly sweet, the pickles and mustard lended a bit of tang to the unctuous beef patties smothered in melty American cheese, and the sweet-but-slightly-spicy Sassy Sauce brought it all together without overpowering any other flavors.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
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At Big Ma’s, the ribs are cut into manageable pieces, with just enough fat to leave the meat unctuous but easy to eat.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 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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What historians and theologians know about Francis comes primarily from his own writings and hagiographic texts.—
Vanessa Corcoran,
The Conversation,
2 Feb. 2026
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Of course, a person making a hagiographic documentary about the production of the show for Netflix probably isn’t the world’s most neutral source.—
Sharon Adarlo,
Futurism,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soapy. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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