as in soapy
overly or insincerely flattering
an executive who surrounds herself with oily, sycophantic assistants
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oily
Best For: Detoxing hair, and removing oily scalp buildup.
—
Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
One of the most interesting findings, Hedström says, was that both lean and oily fish were tied to a lower risk of disability progression.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Its bouncy formula absorbs quickly and is good for both dry and oily types.
—Lauren Wilrich, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
Designed for sensitive and oily to acne-prone skin, the all-in-one cleanser and makeup remover delivers a 12-hour matte finish to control shine and reduce excess oil without stripping the skin.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
One of the most interesting findings, Hedström says, was that both lean and oily fish were tied to a lower risk of disability progression.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Its bouncy formula absorbs quickly and is good for both dry and oily types.
—Lauren Wilrich, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
Designed for sensitive and oily to acne-prone skin, the all-in-one cleanser and makeup remover delivers a 12-hour matte finish to control shine and reduce excess oil without stripping the skin.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oily
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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It was announced shortly before Feb. 14, which marked seven years since the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland and as our newspapers remain filled with tragic and preventable homicides caused by irresponsible gun owners, this move is sickening.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2025
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There’s a sickening, satisfying weight behind each strike here, especially with the sprays of blood when Matt repeatedly throws one goon against the wobbling refrigerator.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
4 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
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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
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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
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The maguey imparts a subtly vegetal flavor, and cooks reserve just enough fat so that each bite of meat is unctuous.—
Edmund Tijerina,
Bon Appétit,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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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How Is Access To Healthcare In Braga? Access to healthcare is abundant in Braga.—
Kathleen Peddicord,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
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Today, the black and white birds that live along the southern Ross Sea primarily eat Antarctic silverfish, a small, abundant fish that scientists consider a keystone species.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oily. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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