oils 1 of 2

plural of oil

oils

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of oil
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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of oils
Noun
They are not only enriched in our fat cells but also in plant oils, such as olive oil, soybean oils, etc. Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025 Use insecticidal soap, neem or horticultural oils, or Spinosad, and follow label instructions. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025 While carrier oils can be nourishing, tea tree oil itself is drying. Heidi Cope, Health, 27 Oct. 2025 From dry sprays to style sealers like serums, lotions, creams and oils, these are the final products applied to the hair before and after applying heat. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2025 Take a lemon peel, express the oils over the top of the drink, give the peel a twist, and place it into the drink. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025 Aloe vera instantly soothes dryness, while jojoba, camellia, and almond oils keep your lips plush, soft, and supported. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2025 The line includes body oils, cold process soaps, wax melts and coconut wax candles with names like Enigma, Saharan Musk, and Love Letter. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 24 Oct. 2025 Plus, their fabric and fill are less likely to accrue that ever-darkening yellowish stain that tired goose down pillows acquire over time, thanks to sweat, oils, lotion residues, etc. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oils
Noun
  • Others recalled seeing them in one of their vehicles with the dogs, but that was years ago too, as was their last appearance at Jinja, a restaurant Gene once partly owned with the aforementioned Doug; Gene’s paintings still brighten the walls.
    Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The protests stretched beyond India’s borders, too, with London’s Asia House controversially canceling an exhibition of Husain’s work in 2006, citing security concerns, after Hindu groups demanded its closure and vandals defaced two of his paintings.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
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
  • His contribution to the Prix Marcel Duchamp comprises seven massive canvases containing surreal figures bathed in a phosphorescent green.
    News Desk, Artforum, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The middle frames offered dueling canvasses for the starting pitchers.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oils. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on oils

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!