unctuous
adjective
characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, especially in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug.
unctuously
-
a word derived from
unctuous.
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.
The second unctuously told his father he would comply but then went off and did something else.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026
This makes hangwa — from variations like flaky fried syrup-drenched yakgwa to unctuously puffed rice yugwa to taffy-like yeot candy — a perfect pairing with the holiday.
From Salon ● Mar. 12, 2022
Petit manseng is now all the rage in Virginia, solo or in blends, producing aromatic and fruity whites from bone dry to unctuously sweet.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 27, 2022
Pedro Pascal plays Maxwell Lord, an unctuously familiar breed of snake oil salesman in a honey-blond ’80s wig thick with hair product.
From Slate ● Dec. 15, 2020
He spoke unctuously, as though he had no idea why she really came down; but all three of us knew he knew and that we knew he knew.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
