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unctuousness

unctuousness

9.9
A false friendliness that tries to please or impress people
  • noun
  • /ˈʌŋk.tʃu.əs.nəs/
translation icon : unctuosidad
  • The salesman's unctuousness was off-putting, as he tried too hard to charm the customers.

Examples

  • No, there's a an unctuousness, an almost an umami, and that's what we like from our Peaches.

  • His unctuousness during the meeting made everyone suspect his true intentions.

  • She spoke with an unctuousness that made it difficult to trust her sincerity.

Synonyms

affectation
vsunctuousness
11 8.6

A fake way of speaking or behaving to impress others

focuses more on persuasive smoothness and false earnest feeling
insincerity
vsunctuousness
4 5.6

Not showing true feelings when you speak or act

adds a persuasive, overly smooth quality to that general lack
glibness
vsunctuousness
3 8.5

A type of speech that sounds smooth but not honest

is more about exaggerated earnestness and smooth persuasion
palaver
vsunctuousness
  • Informal
2 8.8

A lot of talk that sounds important but says nothing

is the inward quality of insincere earnestness rather than mere talk
unction
vsunctuousness
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Speech or manner that feels false and too eager to please

is the general quality of insincere earnestness rather than a speech style
flummery
vsunctuousness
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Empty praise and ceremony that try to impress without real value

is the personal quality of insincere earnestness, not just empty praise
unctuous behavior
vsunctuousness
1 9.8

Trying too hard to please others by being polite and friendly in a way that does not seem honest

means insincere earnestness used specifically as a social tactic
smarminess
vsunctuousness
  • Informal
1 9.2

Too much praise that tries to make people like you

is the broader trait of insincere earnestness rather than just manners
oiliness
vsunctuousness
1 7.6

A smooth, insincere way of talking that tries to please people

focuses more on persuasive earnestness than general self-serving smoothness
oleaginousness
vsunctuousness
  • Formal
9.9

Being unpleasantly smooth and too friendly

expresses similar insincere earnestness but with slightly less harsh tone
unctuous tone
vsunctuousness
9.3

A way of speaking that is too friendly and seems not sincere

is the general quality of insincere earnestness beyond just tone
fulsomeness
vsunctuousness
9.9

Excessive praise that feels fake and forced

is about insincere earnestness not only about praise quantity
glibbery
vsunctuousness
9.8

Speaking in a smooth, confident way that does not seem sincere

leans more toward deliberate persuasive earnestness than mere smoothness
affectedness
vsunctuousness
8.6

Acting in a fake or showy way to impress other people

is about insincere earnestness rather than mere pretension for style
artificialness
vsunctuousness
7.3

A way of acting or speaking that does not feel sincere

adds intent to persuade or impress through smooth insincerity

Antonyms

71 3.1

A feeling of being honest and not pretending

7 3.5

Open and honest talk that says exactly what you think

How Insincere

sycophancy
  • Formal
1 9.5
unctuousness
9.9
flattery
37 4.7
politeness
26 1.3
sincerity
71 3.1

Surface Forms

unctuousness singular

Morphology

unctuousness = unctuous (transparent) = unctuous + ness

Standard noun formation from the adjective 'unctuous' with '-ness', yielding the quality or state described by the adjective.

Etymology

The word unctuousness comes from the old Latin word unctus meaning 'anointed' or 'oiled', the same idea behind ointment. So unctuousness is like 'oily' or too-smooth behaviour that feels false and is meant to impress.