unctuously
1
9.8
- adverb
- /ˈʌŋk.tʃu.əs/
:
untuosamente
- The salesman smiled unctuously as he tried to convince her to buy the overpriced vacuum cleaner.
- said unctuously
Examples
-
In 2012, in addition to having the Allstate Insurance man as their candidate, Democrats also trotted out the unctuously faux-empathetic Bill Clinton.
Blog text (27) -
"I'm so sorry," he said unctuously.
Fiction book (1995) -
"Jambo!" he greeted her unctuously.
Fiction book (1990) -
When the driver exited, it turned out to be Olse Hagbarth, unctuously friendly.
Fiction book (1997) -
Remember, he did choose the unctuously repellent neocon Joseph Lieberman as his VP.
Blog text (20) -
A man strums a guitar, bending forward from the waist and smiling unctuously, singing off-key right in her ear.
Fiction book (2001) -
It was a predictable gesture from Tuohey, who favored ceremonial occasions, but Robbie now unctuously expressed his appreciation.
Fiction book (1999) -
He spoke unctuously to everyone at the party, making his compliments sound terribly insincere.
-
She unctuously thanked her boss for the promotion, even though she felt it was undeserved.
Synonyms
3
7.7
Speak in a smooth way that does not seem honest
1
4.5
To say or do something without meaning it
1
4.6
In a way that praises someone more than they deserve
1
9.4
To praise someone too much so it does not sound sincere
1
8.3
In a friendly but not honest way that makes people not trust you
In a very polite but fake way to get someone to like you
How Insincere
1
9.8
- Offensive
1
9.9
1
4.6
108
1.0
152
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Unctuously comes from the old Latin word ungere, which means 'to put oil on' and is the same root as the word ointment. So, to be unctuously friendly is to seem 'oily', overly smooth and false, as if someone is trying too hard to please.