1
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
an unctuous effort to appear religious to the voters
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unctuous
Mandelson is a deeply charming, borderline unctuous character.
—
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
The pickled mustard seeds provide little pears of flavor and an edge of acid that cuts through the unctuous dish.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 30 Dec. 2024
Pasta sauces are unctuous, and the tiramisu made my lactose-intolerant dining companion giddy.
—Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 25 Nov. 2024
For cooking the aromatic vegetables, but also dotted overtop, butter seeps into the breadcrumbs and crisps up the top for an unctuous, golden bite.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unctuous
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
The pickled mustard seeds provide little pears of flavor and an edge of acid that cuts through the unctuous dish.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 30 Dec. 2024
Pasta sauces are unctuous, and the tiramisu made my lactose-intolerant dining companion giddy.
—Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 25 Nov. 2024
For cooking the aromatic vegetables, but also dotted overtop, butter seeps into the breadcrumbs and crisps up the top for an unctuous, golden bite.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unctuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unctuous
Adjective
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With digital platforms flooded with bots and fake numbers, Kerns built his following and client base by offering true engagement, authority, and working systems.—
Rhiannon Frater,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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Swatting is when a 911 call is made, usually to report a fake violent crime, to get police and sometimes even SWAT teams, to respond to the address given by the caller.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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For most people, the idea might trigger fears of buildup, bacteria, oily skin, and breakouts.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
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Dip a salted, buttery or oily crouton in that chocolate fountain instead and thank me later.—
Carolynn Carreño,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Over 500,000 tourists poured into Rio, more than double what was expected.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
4 May 2025
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Outside of two walks to Marcell Ozuna — who won an 11-pitch battle in the first inning, and a six-pitch duel in the fourth — the Braves mustered nothing until a two-out double by Austin Riley in the sixth.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 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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By After Testing Over 30 Best Sellers By Siena Gagliano Unlike balms, which can make lip color slide around, a primer locks it in while keeping lips soft and comfortable.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
2 Mar. 2025
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For lip color, reach for the Merit Beauty Signature lipsticks.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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And once the sickening jolts of the combat takeoff had ended and Bui slowly grew accustomed to the noise and the pressure of the C-130, the taste of KFC stopped his crying.—
Jennifer Brookland,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2025
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To take but one example, the riots that convulsed swatches of England and Northern Ireland last year were fueled by social media accounts claiming sickening crimes by immigrants, amplified by right-wing accounts.—
David Robert Grimes,
Scientific American,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Make two superficial cross-shaped incisions on the bottom of the tomato.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
1 May 2025
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Today’s discerning travelers prioritize cultural depth, architectural storytelling, and a sense of place over superficial opulence.—
Paul Jebara,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Burns had a strained relationship with his own father, and the Salarnos took him in as one of their own.—
Gabriella Demirdjian,
CBS News,
2 May 2025
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Text messages sent in the hours leading up to O’Keefe’s death read aloud to the court by a Massachusetts state trooper show the couple were at a strained point in their relationship.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unctuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unctuous. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
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