Dictionary.com

oily

[ oi-lee ]
/ ˈɔɪ li /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR oily ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ IF A DAZZLING VOCABULARY IS YOUR DESIDERATUM!

Have the Words of the Day from October 19–25, 2020, made an indelible mark on your memory? Take the quiz to find out!
Question 1 of 7
What does “clement” mean?
having or claiming to have the power of seeing objects or actions beyond the range of natural vision.
mild or merciful in disposition or character; lenient; compassionate.
favorite; cherished.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of oily

First recorded in 1520–30; oil + -y1

SYNONYMS FOR oily

5 fawning, smarmy, bootlicking.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR oily ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM oily

oil·i·ness, nounnon·oil·y, adjectiveun·oil·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to oily

buttery, waxy, slippery, creamy, oiled, bland, slick, lubricant, lustrous, polished, rich, sleek, smooth, soapy, soothing, swimming, unctuous, adipose, oleaginous, butyraceous

Example sentences from the Web for oily

British Dictionary definitions for oily

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 forms of oily

oilily, 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