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
Advertisement Hot, soapy water is generally sufficient for cleaning up everyday messes on kitchen countertops, cutting boards, and kitchen sinks, says Taylor Dunivin, a toxicologist with the Environmental Working Group, an environmental health nonprofit.
—
Jamie Friedlander Serrano, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Always wash vases with warm, soapy water in between uses to prevent the transmission of bacteria and disease from one bouquet to the next.
—Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for soapy
Jamie Friedlander Serrano, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Always wash vases with warm, soapy water in between uses to prevent the transmission of bacteria and disease from one bouquet to the next.
—Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for soapy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soapy
Adjective
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Let the board sit for a few hours or overnight, then buff to remove any remaining oily residue.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2026
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Bad sesame-ginger dressings are watery, wimpy, oily or syrupy.—
Jolene Thym,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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At the bottom of the Olympia delle Tofane slope, in the grandstands about 2,000 feet below, there was nothing but a sickening silence after Vonn’s crash.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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The rest of us could only imagine Randall’s sickening embarrassment at needing to testify at the trial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 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
-
There is nothing unctuous about the clear, aromatic broth.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
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One of the highlights is the bread cart rolled out at the beginning of the meal, right after the waiter shaves off a roll of unctuous French butter from a huge golden mound.—
Penny E Schwartz,
Oc Register,
1 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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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 10 Mar. 2026.
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