oily

[oi-lee]

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

/ ˈɔɪlɪ /

adjective

1. soaked in or smeared with oil or grease

2. consisting of, containing, or resembling oil

3. flatteringly servile or obsequious

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of oily¹

First recorded in 1520–30; oil + -y ¹

Example Sentences

It comes with two dressings, but I usually just do the sort of lemony kind of oily dressing.

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Great British Chefs specified that tonka’s “most distinctive feature” is their “enormous potency — heady vanilla flavours, with oily clove aromas, and perfumed magnolia, sandalwood notes.”

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It slid easily under the oily meat, again and again and again.

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She pointed to the pond, which no longer had the foul odor or the oily sheen of the canal despite being just a few steps away.

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I’m team salsa macha — toasty, oily and laced with peanuts and chiles.

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Related Words

• buttery 
• creamy 
• oiled 
• slippery 
• waxy