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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
The Ordinary’s oil control serum, formulated with oil-taming zinc and a high concentration of niacinamide, can visibly boost skin’s brightness and smoothness in eight weeks. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2025 Levi points out that the European Union recently banned imports of seaborne crude oil and refined oil products from Russia. Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Lightly oiling the cutting board so nothing sticks will also make rolling easier, along with allowing yourself a few tries to get the hang of it. Gretchen McKay, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025 Lightly oiling the cutting board so nothing sticks will also make rolling easier, along with allowing yourself a few tries to get the hang of it. Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oil
Noun
  • An artisan marketplace gives festival-goers a chance to peruse and purchase apparel, toys, glass art, pottery, leather and metal goods, jewelry, paintings, edible treats and sculptures and other creations to mark their time in the Renaissance era.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The painting becomes a metaphorical screen against which the play can project its critique of taste as a signifier of identity, virtue, and power.
    Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
  • With a shiny, almost mirror-like glaze, and tender ultra-moist crumb, this recipe is well worth the pain of greasing every nook and cranny of a Bundt pan to make.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The washable canvas wipes clean in case of coffee or smoothie mishaps.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
  • For me, Marimekko’s essence is about creating art that is applied to a different kind of canvas – a dress.
    Stephan Rabimov, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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