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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unctuous
Unsalted butter: Adds a creamy, unctuous taste to the scampi sauce that olive oil alone can't bring.
—
Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2025
Those suspects include the bartender (Gabrielle Ryan), a sad sack of a man on a blind date (Reed Diamond), an imperious hostess (Sarah McCormack), and an unctuous, boozy piano player (Ed Weeks).
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
The maguey imparts a subtly vegetal flavor, and cooks reserve just enough fat so that each bite of meat is unctuous.
—Edmund Tijerina, Bon Appétit, 27 Feb. 2025
Mandelson is a deeply charming, borderline unctuous character.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unctuous
Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2025
Those suspects include the bartender (Gabrielle Ryan), a sad sack of a man on a blind date (Reed Diamond), an imperious hostess (Sarah McCormack), and an unctuous, boozy piano player (Ed Weeks).
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
The maguey imparts a subtly vegetal flavor, and cooks reserve just enough fat so that each bite of meat is unctuous.
—Edmund Tijerina, Bon Appétit, 27 Feb. 2025
Mandelson is a deeply charming, borderline unctuous character.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unctuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unctuous
Adjective
-
How tariff news fuels some scams The Better Business Bureau warned earlier this summer that some scammers are using fake excuses involving delays caused by tariffs to cover up fraudulent online orders.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
24 July 2025
-
Spreading Malware Through Fake GitHub Repositories As seen in a recent case, threat actors use AI to create fake GitHub repositories, misleading developers into downloading malware.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
Dermatologists named it one of the best ingredients for treating acne and oily skin.—
Cathy Cassata,
Health,
22 July 2025
-
Chain-drive ebikes can be a little too high maintenance for some, and reward you with oily clothes for your trouble.—
Paul Ridden
July 22,
New Atlas,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Sox fell into a hole after a two-run double by Bryce Harper in the third inning.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
29 July 2025
-
His double off the brick arcade would’ve cleared the fence in every major-league ballpark except the one built hard against McCovey Cove.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
27 July 2025
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
-
At any moment, the noodles might dissolve, the cheese topping burn, the dish collapse into a soggy, oleaginous mess.—
Isaac Butler,
The New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2023
Adjective
-
By After Testing Over 30 Best Sellers By Siena Gagliano Unlike balms, which can make lip color slide around, a primer locks it in while keeping lips soft and comfortable.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
2 Mar. 2025
-
For lip color, reach for the Merit Beauty Signature lipsticks.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The practice is one of a sickening array of battlefield mistreatments recorded on video either by Ukrainian surveillance drones or Russian servicemen and then circulated on social media.—
Andrew Carey,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
-
Especially when his head gave a sickening whirl, blackening for a second, and his limbs seized again.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
The damage looked superficial, while the rider himself was laid-back.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
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Unfortunately, many of these individuals are disillusioned with the traditional path and are enticed by the allure of fast money, luxurious lifestyles, and superficial beauty without any effort or hard work.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
There has been a gradual normalization of ties between India and China in recent months after relations were deeply strained in June 2020, when a brutal hand-to-hand battle in the Galwan Valley left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
24 July 2025
-
The Taliban’s strained relationships with Iran and Pakistan further complicate reintegration efforts.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unctuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unctuous. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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