unctuous
Americanadjective
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slippery or greasy
-
affecting an oily charm
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unctuous
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin ūnctuōsus, equivalent to Latin ūnctu(s) “act of anointing” ( ung(uere) “to smear, anoint” + -tus suffix of verb action) + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
You might know the idea of the adjective unctuous by other words like "oily," "smarmy," or overly "flattering." When a person is unctuous, you can't trust their kindness, because they usually want something in return. Interestingly, unctuous is derived from the Latin unctus which means "anointed with oil," which is where the oily connotation comes from. Unctuous and oily are synonyms that both suggest that someone is trying to butter you up; they're being nice, because they're hoping you'll give them what they want. Talk-show hosts, used-car salesmen, people who want your job: all of these are people we think of (rightly or wrongly) as being unctuous. Being an unctuous jerk, he gave me a gift, hoping I'd give him a record deal.
Vocabulary lists containing unctuous
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 8
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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.
Unctuous platitudes about its being a time of forgiveness and new beginnings regularly stall the movie in its tracks.
From New York Times • Dec. 8, 2011
Unctuous CNN personality Piers Morgan was the editor of British tabloid the Daily Mirror until he was forced to resign after printing hoax images of British soldiers abusing detainees.
From Salon • Jul. 26, 2011
Unctuous, large of frame, full of vigor at 55, he is much in demand as a speaker at gatherings of such evangelical bodies as Christian Endeavor.
From Time Magazine Archive
Eat them so, without Sugar or Butter; for they will have a natural sweetness, that is beyond sugar, and will be Unctuous, so as not to need Butter.
From The Closet of Sir Kenelm Digby Knight Opened by MacDonell, Anne
It is a soft Body made of the Unctuous and Sulphurous part of the Blood.
From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Le Clerc, Charles Gabriel
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.
