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Synonyms

oily

American  
[oi-lee] / ˈɔɪ li /

adjective

oilier, oiliest

  1. smeared or covered with oil; greasy.

    an oily road surface.

  2. of the nature of, consisting of, or resembling oil.

  3. of or relating to oil.

  4. full of or containing oil.

  5. smooth or unctuous, as in manner or speech.

    an oily hypocrite.
    Synonyms:
    smarmy

adverb

  1. in an oily manner.

oily British  
/ ˈɔɪlɪ /

adjective

  1. soaked in or smeared with oil or grease

  2. consisting of, containing, or resembling oil

  3. flatteringly servile or obsequious

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nonoily adjective
  • oilily adverb
  • oiliness noun
  • unoily adjective

Etymology

Origin of oily

First recorded in 1520–30; oil + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Upon the honor of my name, good Rupert,” the miller said in his oily voice, “I’ve given what is fairly yours. It always seems less after the grinding.”

From Literature

"You don't have oily hair like I do."

From Literature

Skunks spray an oily liquid from glands underneath their tails as a defense.

From Literature

I reached for one, tore its outer pulp off with my teeth, and sucked the oily juice.

From Literature

When it comes to helping players' recovery, oily fish, nuts and seeds are top of the menu.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.