oily

Examples

• All

• The politician's speech was filled with oily compliments that felt insincere.

• She noticed the oily manner in which he flattered her, and it made her suspicious.

• The sun is high; her skin is a lake of oily sweat.

  Fiction book (1990)

• But if you're not trying to look oily, this might be a problem.

• Can moisturize without giving me too much of an oily look.

• "Whom have I the extreme honor and privilege to be addressing, monsieur?" Uncle asked in the oily voice he used when speaking to rich people.

  Fiction book (2001)

• There is an oily menace behind the shopkeeper's smile.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Dagget appeared promptly, as oily, polite, and forthcoming as ever.

  Fiction book (2001)

• "Dagget did so with his usual oily suaveness.

  Fiction book (2001)

• He's so oily, you can fry chicken on that man's smile.

  The Preacher's Wife (1996)

Synonyms

S

smarmy

vsoily

• Informal

12 8.1

Too polite and friendly in a way that does not seem real

focuses more on slick, unpleasant smoothness than on false politeness

U

unctuous

vsoily

3 9.7

A person who gives too many fake compliments to try to please people

is the more common word for that slick ingratiating tone

S

soapy

vsoily

3 7.1

Trying to please others with smooth words that are not sincere

is harsher, stressing slickness and sleazy insincerity rather than cleanliness

F

fulsome

vsoily

• Formal

3 9.3

Too much praise that sounds false and makes people uncomfortable

is narrower, focusing on slick flattering manner rather than broad lavishness

B

buttery

vsoily

1 7.9

Talking in a smooth, not sincere way to seem friendly

leans more toward a greasy, ingratiating manner than creamy metaphor

O

oleaginous

vsoily

• Offensive

1 9.9

Too smooth and friendly in a fake, unpleasant way

is similar but highlights a smooth, greasy manner

Antonyms

H

honest

∞ 1.0

Truthful and fair, not cheating or lying

G

genuine

140 3.2

Truly felt and not fake, for example a smile or apology

B

blunt

100 3.8

Speaking in a direct, plain way that can sound rude

Compounds

O

oily rag

1 3.4

A piece of cloth soaked in oil used to clean or shine things

O

oily mess

1 3.7

A dirty, greasy stain or spill that is hard to clean

How Insincere

obsequious

• Formal

8 9.3

oily

6 6.7

slick

109 4.7

smooth

110 4.4

polished

22 4.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology