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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of oily¹

First recorded in 1520–30; oil + -y ¹

Example Sentences

They expect to begin reporting recovery totals Thursday morning, though those numbers will likely reflect an “oily water mixture,” not pure crude.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A massive wall of slick, oily scales bursts out of the water.

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Flames spread through the floating rubble and across the oily surface of the water.

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Walker agrees and likens it to the fact you can't remove an oily or dirty mark from clothes with just water, you need detergent too.

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When I hear the door close from their exit, I peel myself up from the warm table and marvel at the oily outline my body has left on the sheet.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• buttery 
• creamy 
• oiled 
• slippery 
• waxy