as in paintings
a picture created with oil paint
that artist is known to have created only oils and charcoal sketches
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in greases
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.
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Recent Examples of oils
Tory Johnson, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
Her thigh is out of place and shiny with oils.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
My two favorite perfume oils in rotation are Nemat’s Egyptian Musk and Cyklar’s Vanilla Verve—both of which collect me a plethora of compliments.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2026
Muddle, crushing mint to release oils.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
While the natural oils produced by the scalp create a protective barrier, having too much oil can create a perfect breeding ground for other microbes that disrupt the scalp's natural state.
—Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2026
Its nourishing formula blends the benefits of seven different oils, including golden Moroccan argan, olive, coconut, apricot, marula, jojoba, and camellia, for noticeably healthier hair.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
For instance, cook with plant oils—such as olive oil and canola oil—instead of animal fats, like butter or beef tallow.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 1 Apr. 2026
While serums and minoxidil address the follicle directly, scalp oils target the broader environment where healthy hair growth begins.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
Say goodbye to oils, fingerprints, dust and debris blocking your vision.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
Her thigh is out of place and shiny with oils.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
My two favorite perfume oils in rotation are Nemat’s Egyptian Musk and Cyklar’s Vanilla Verve—both of which collect me a plethora of compliments.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2026
Muddle, crushing mint to release oils.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
While the natural oils produced by the scalp create a protective barrier, having too much oil can create a perfect breeding ground for other microbes that disrupt the scalp's natural state.
—Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2026
Its nourishing formula blends the benefits of seven different oils, including golden Moroccan argan, olive, coconut, apricot, marula, jojoba, and camellia, for noticeably healthier hair.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
For instance, cook with plant oils—such as olive oil and canola oil—instead of animal fats, like butter or beef tallow.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 1 Apr. 2026
While serums and minoxidil address the follicle directly, scalp oils target the broader environment where healthy hair growth begins.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
Ramakrishnan typically oils her hair twice a week before washing it.
—Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oils
Noun
-
These motifs evolve into deeper explorations of aggression and subcultural aesthetics, dedicating space to his film Trash Humpers and the Shadow Fux paintings.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
-
This Italian city has innumerable artistic treasures, these 25 paintings among them.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Judge and Schwarber would be dangerous against any league, but my point is that instead of two leagues with distinct rivalries and stars, baseball is now one big, generic blob, which only greases the skids for Manfred’s geographical realignment dream.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Aug. 2025
-
That greases the skids of trust and softens skepticism.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Another late work, Color Wheel, 2018–19, comprises a group of thirty massive canvases arranged in a circle, each a vivid, monochromatic shade atop which has been painted a single, dripping bar of complementary hue.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Zeller’s canvases mystified him.—
Eric Boodman,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oils. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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