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
Mackerel This protein-dense oily fish is ubiquitous in the Mediterranean and parts of the Atlantic and has a rich flavor, a buttery texture, and is quick to cook on the grill, in the oven, or in a pan.
—
Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2025
If that’s not enough to grab your attention, the serum is also dermatologist-tested and suitable for all skin types, including dry, sensitive, combination, and oily skin.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025
Designed to remove peach fuzz and help the skin absorb oils, serums, and moisturizers, the wee tool—clocking in at just under six inches—can also help balance an oily complexion.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025
Eating oily fish every week may also reduce the risk of:26
Heart disease
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Metabolic syndrome
9.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Mph, Verywell Health, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2025
If that’s not enough to grab your attention, the serum is also dermatologist-tested and suitable for all skin types, including dry, sensitive, combination, and oily skin.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025
Designed to remove peach fuzz and help the skin absorb oils, serums, and moisturizers, the wee tool—clocking in at just under six inches—can also help balance an oily complexion.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025
Eating oily fish every week may also reduce the risk of:26
Heart disease
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Metabolic syndrome
9.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Mph, Verywell Health, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oily
Adjective
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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
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There is just cause for the soapier parts: Manet was married, and Morisot wed his brother.—
Julie Belcove,
Robb Report,
23 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Scientists had initially feared this spread could represent another Ebola-like crisis — since that disease originated in animals, then jumped to humans, sickening and killing a large number of people.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
19 Mar. 2025
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The disconnect between the reality that many people are currently experiencing hunger, in part because of climate change, and this fancy dinner was sickening.—
The Dial,
The Dial,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
-
At any moment, the noodles might dissolve, the cheese topping burn, the dish collapse into a soggy, oleaginous mess.—
Isaac Butler,
The New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2023
Adjective
-
Unsalted butter: Adds a creamy, unctuous taste to the scampi sauce that olive oil alone can't bring.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Those suspects include the bartender (Gabrielle Ryan), a sad sack of a man on a blind date (Reed Diamond), an imperious hostess (Sarah McCormack), and an unctuous, boozy piano player (Ed Weeks).—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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
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There’s no better time to embrace the mushy gushy than in the first few moments after winning gold medals together.—
Meg Linehan,
The Athletic,
10 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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Stalin willed into being socialist realism, a hagiographic style that crept into art forms like music and painting.—
Joshua Yaffa,
The New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2025
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This is the same notion that makes this more of a hagiographic portrait than a truly thoughtful biographical film.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Bedrock was working on sodium-ion batteries, which are lower cost, as sodium is more abundant and cheaper than lithium, and don't use cobalt or nickel.—
Katie Fehrenbacher,
Axios,
7 Apr. 2025
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Try this: Identify colleagues with abundant thinking and schedule regular coffee chats or lunch meetings.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oily. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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