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oil

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verb

as in to grease
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction if you oil the machinery on a regular basis, it will operate more efficiently

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of oil
Noun
Trump has also threatened 100% tariffs on U.S. imports from countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine. Jasper Ward, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2025 The Automotive Symposium equips young people with hands-on skills—like changing tires, checking oil, and completing safety inspections—that leave them feeling confident and capable. Melissa Noel, Essence, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
Keep those tools clean, oiled, sharpened and most importantly under cover to ensure many years of use. 14. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2025 The light non-foaming cream is enriched with shea butter, plus monoi, avocado, and tamanu oils to nourish the strands while removing scalp buildup. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for oil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oil
Noun
  • Munch was much more than just that painting, though many of his works explore despair, depression and anxiety.
    Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 3 Aug. 2025
  • In 2021, Walshe pleaded guilty to a federal art fraud scheme involving the sale of two fake Andy Warhol paintings.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch rimmed sheet pan and line the bottom and sides with parchment paper.
    Cathy Thomas, Mercury News, 8 July 2025
  • But the new involvement by the president greased the skids for both camps to ultimately get on board.
    Aris Folley, The Hill, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Series made on such a large canvas require ever more these days the involvement of a streaming service – global, regional or national – to realize the potential of their scale.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 24 July 2025
  • In fact, another great thing about this canvas tote bag is how many options are out there for customizing it.
    Terri Peters, Parents, 22 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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