unctuous

adjective

ˈəŋ(k)-chə-wəs How to pronounce unctuous (audio)
Definition of unctuousnext
1
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express an unctuous effort to appear religious to the voters

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in oily
overly or insincerely flattering an unctuous appraisal of the musical talent shown by the boss's daughter

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 unctuous Here are details on the sweet, tiny bites of unctuous decadence, and the fluffy, bogus cones best left in the freezer. — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 3 June 2026 All the women are obsessed with an oily, unctuous man named Johnny Thunders (Dougray Scott), who’s now married to Elle’s ex-lover Dominique (Liu). — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 May 2026 Zesty juniper-forward versions soar in a classic Negroni, floral gins impress in a rosy gin-kombucha cocktail, and unctuous savory gin is indelible in a 50/50 martini. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2026 While the unctuous oxtail is a strong contender, and the patties are a must, the jerk chicken is still the star of the show. — Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unctuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unctuous
  1. fake
  2. oily
  3. double
  4. oleaginous
  5. lip
  6. sickening
  7. strained
  8. gushy
Adjective
  • Multiple schools are at the center of incidents in which teens are facing legal consequences for generating fake explicit images of their classmates.
    — Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • Gen Alphas seem to know almost immediately when something is fake, overproduced, delayed or culturally disconnected, which is why the strongest content right now often feels chaotic.
    — Kelly Samuel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • Made with salicylic and glycolic acids for exfoliation, the product is particularly well-suited for those with oily skin, or anyone looking to target uneven texture.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 29 July 2026
  • To combat oily roots while also adding some blow-out-worthy volume, the Style Edit Texture Boost Dry Texturizing Spray is your best bet.
    — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 28 July 2026
Definition of oily
Adjective
  • Ask Italian soccer club AS Roma, which on Wednesday made a double announcement that took the cross-pollination between the two fields to the next level.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
  • Among the highlights is a double-height living room with a fireplace, a seated bar, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors spilling out to an expansive deck sporting a covered entertaining area, plus a pool and spa.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 29 July 2026
Definition of double
Adjective
  • One defense, beginning in the late eighteen-hundreds, was flypaper, sheets of which were coated on one side with an oleaginous substance that lured flies, then permanently trapped them.
    — David Owen, The New Yorker, 27 July 2024
  • Ted Cruz, the perennial front-runner, is smug and oleaginous—hated equally by his colleagues and the public.
    — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 26 Sep. 2022
Definition of oleaginous
Adjective
  • Likewise, lip masks designed to be worn overnight can provide improved hydration and comfort over daytime treatments.
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
  • On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tatianna points to cinnamon as a conductor of heat—one commonly used in lip plumper products to achieve a sultry pout.
    — Essence, Essence, 23 Nov. 2025
Definition of lip
Adjective
  • To defile the legacy of his family and that family name is sickening, and turns my stomach.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 16 July 2026
  • The 2022 spill was the largest ever from the Keystone pipeline, killing or sickening 2,700 animals.
    — Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Definition of sickening
Adjective
  • Yes, the excuses used to finally get them in the same frame together run the gamut from strained to getthefuckouttahere.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026
  • There is no frantic downshift, no strained exhaust note, and little sensation of mechanical effort.
    — Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of strained
Adjective
  • Except for the unfettered devotion in the latter is replaced by swooping strings and a gushy chorus that merely offer an antiseptic veneer.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 June 2026
  • The announcement may come as a shock for country fans who have followed the couple through their sappy podcast appearances and gushy acceptance speeches.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
Definition of gushy

Browse Nearby Words

uncrumpling
unctuous
unctuously
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Cite this Entry

“Unctuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unctuous. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of unctuous for Spanish Speakers

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