oily

[ oi-lee ]

/ ˈɔɪ li /

adjective, oil·i·er, oil·i·est.

smeared or covered with oil; greasy: an oily road surface.

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

of or relating to oil.

full of or containing oil.

smooth or unctuous, as in manner or speech: an oily hypocrite.

adverb

in an oily manner.

Nearby words

Origin of oily

First recorded in 1520–30; oil + -y¹

SYNONYMS FOR oily

5 fawning, smarmy, bootlicking.

Related formsoil·i·ness, nounnon·oil·y, adjectiveun·oil·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for oiliness

His manner was cordial to the point of oiliness, yet cold and insincere.
I Walked in Arden|Jack Crawford
"That tail," spoke Mr. Marrapit, a sinister hardness now behind the oiliness.
Once Aboard The Lugger|Arthur Stuart-Menteth Hutchinson
In attempting smoothness he fell into oiliness; where he aimed at polished brilliance, the result was blazing varnish.
Quisant|Anthony Hope
Very refreshing in warm weather and an excellent remedy for oiliness of the skin.
The Golden Age Cook Book|Henrietta Latham Dwight

And as he gradually began to lose fat, and to dwell upon gunnery, we found his oiliness most useful to prevent corrosion.
The Maid of Sker|Richard Doddridge Blackmore

British Dictionary definitions for oiliness

oily

/ (ˈɔɪlɪ) /

adjective oilier or oiliest

soaked in or smeared with oil or grease

consisting of, containing, or resembling oil

flatteringly servile or obsequious

Derived Formsoilily, adverboiliness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for oiliness

oily

adj.

1520s, from oil (n.) + -y (2). Figurative meaning "smooth, unctuous" is from 1590s. Related: Oiliness.