unctuous

adjective

ˈəŋ(k)-chə-wəs How to pronounce unctuous (audio)
Definition of unctuousnext
1
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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 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 Zesty juniper-forward versions soar in a classic Negroni, floral gins impress in a rosy gin-kombucha cocktail, and unctuous savory gin is indelible in a 50/50 martini. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2026 While the unctuous oxtail is a strong contender, and the patties are a must, the jerk chicken is still the star of the show. — Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unctuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unctuous
  1. fake
  2. oily
  3. double
  4. oleaginous
  5. lip
  6. sickening
  7. strained
  8. gushy
Adjective
  • Multiple schools are at the center of incidents in which teens are facing legal consequences for generating fake explicit images of their classmates.
    — Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • Gen Alphas seem to know almost immediately when something is fake, overproduced, delayed or culturally disconnected, which is why the strongest content right now often feels chaotic.
    — Kelly Samuel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • The ground sometimes stank of the stuff, with open ponds that finally were ordered covered, with spills and seeps from wells and tanks that hinted at the long plumes of oily stuff underground.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • Because grunion are relatively small and oily, many people prepare them similarly to sardines.
    — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 14 July 2026
Definition of oily
Adjective
  • If Messi is the main focus of England’s attention, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has to contend with the double threat of Bellingham and Kane.
    — James Robson, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
  • Blorian, 26, captained Hapoel Be’er Sheva to an Israeli cup and league-title double last season.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 15 July 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
  • To defile the legacy of his family and that family name is sickening, and turns my stomach.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 16 July 2026
  • The 2022 spill was the largest ever from the Keystone pipeline, killing or sickening 2,700 animals.
    — Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Definition of sickening
Adjective
  • But things between Harry and his older brother, Prince William, reportedly remain strained.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 July 2026
  • Increasing Spanish costs for defense, such as building forts and training militia, led to higher taxes and strained local economies.
    — Lindsay Schakenbach Regele, The Conversation, 13 July 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

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uncrumpling
unctuous
unctuously
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Cite this Entry

“Unctuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unctuous. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of unctuous for Spanish Speakers

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