UNCTUOUS Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

unctuous

adjective

ˈəŋ(k)-chə-wəs

Definition of unctuous

as in fake

not being or expressing what one appears to be or express an unctuous effort to appear religious to the voters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in oily

overly or insincerely flattering an unctuous appraisal of the musical talent shown by the boss's daughter

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 unctuous In its equilibrium, a good tomato sandwich is juicy and unctuous and appropriately messy, which is praise all too often reserved for hot sandwiches like cheesesteaks or patty melts. — Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 11 June 2026 These are wines that pair beautifully with rich dishes, oily, unctuous fish with tomato, and pasta sauces that are rich and fatty. — Valentina Di Donato, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026 Here are details on the sweet, tiny bites of unctuous decadence, and the fluffy, bogus cones best left in the freezer. — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 3 June 2026 All the women are obsessed with an oily, unctuous man named Johnny Thunders (Dougray Scott), who’s now married to Elle’s ex-lover Dominique (Liu). — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for unctuous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unctuous

Adjective

But if Rodgers and Newton are right about fake vaccination cards being a thing around the NFL at the time, there was apparently much bamboozling being done by a number of people.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
As bait, the researchers created a fake startup, Ballena Azul, which pretended to focus on decentralized finance for large holders of cryptocurrency, which North Koreans have been known to target to fund the country’s regime.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

When Debbie, Susan, and Thom come over for a double-date pizza night, only Bret is concerned about the spate of recent home invasions, the missing pets, and the desecration of the griffin mascot.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
Jorge Polanco, who snapped an 0-for-26 streak in the third inning with just his second homer of the season, keyed the rally with a two-out double off the left-field wall.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of double

Adjective

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
Ted Cruz, the perennial front-runner, is smug and oleaginous—hated equally by his colleagues and the public.

— Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 26 Sep. 2022

Definition of oleaginous

Adjective

Likewise, lip masks designed to be worn overnight can provide improved hydration and comfort over daytime treatments.

— Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tatianna points to cinnamon as a conductor of heat—one commonly used in lip plumper products to achieve a sultry pout.

— Essence, Essence, 23 Nov. 2025

Definition of lip

Adjective

As health officials pointed to a Mexican processing plant run by Taylor Farms as the source of a parasite sickening Americans, the giant produce company rushed to defend itself.

— Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
The vote followed roughly six hours of emotional testimony from dozens of residents from across southeast Los Angeles County who pleaded for the air district to take action to require Lineage to do more to suppress sickening odors.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of sickening

Adjective

Murphy, working with Ellis, has expanded the already-strained novel into a nine-episode drama that reaches no conclusion by its finale.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
Elsewhere during the trip, Steven and Kacie finally repaired their strained relationship after months of tension.

— Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of strained

Adjective

Except for the unfettered devotion in the latter is replaced by swooping strings and a gushy chorus that merely offer an antiseptic veneer.

— Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 June 2026
The announcement may come as a shock for country fans who have followed the couple through their sappy podcast appearances and gushy acceptance speeches.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026

Definition of gushy

Browse Nearby Words

uncrumpling

unctuous

unctuously

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to unctuous

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unctuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unctuous. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unctuous

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2

Fan Favorites: Your Most Liked Words of...

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on unctuous

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

salvo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes