oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
a
: covered or impregnated with oil
oily rags
b
: relatively high in naturally secreted oils
oily skin
oily hair
3
: excessively smooth or suave in manner
Examples of oily in a Sentence
The liquid has an oily feel.
a pile of oily rags
The salad dressing was very oily.
Recent Examples on the Web
For most people, the idea might trigger fears of buildup, bacteria, oily skin, and breakouts.
—
Lauryn Higgins, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Dip a salted, buttery or oily crouton in that chocolate fountain instead and thank me later.
—Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
But a sunscreen formulated specifically for oily skin can make the daily habit a lot easier to stick with.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 26 Apr. 2025
Dermalogica Clear Start Cooling Aqua Jelly Dermalogica’s Clear Start Cooling Aqua Jelly is a lightweight gel moisturizer that hydrates oily skin without the shine.
—Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lauryn Higgins, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Dip a salted, buttery or oily crouton in that chocolate fountain instead and thank me later.
—Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
But a sunscreen formulated specifically for oily skin can make the daily habit a lot easier to stick with.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 26 Apr. 2025
Dermalogica Clear Start Cooling Aqua Jelly Dermalogica’s Clear Start Cooling Aqua Jelly is a lightweight gel moisturizer that hydrates oily skin without the shine.
—Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oily. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oily
adjective
oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
a
: covered or soaked with oil
b
: high in oils that are naturally produced
oily skin
oiliness
noun
Medical Definition
oily
adjective
oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
: excessively high in naturally secreted oils
oily hair
oily skin
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share