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
-
There’s a massive global scam operation that uses real payment methods on fake checkout pages.—
Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
-
Additional increases in the quantity and quality of weapons sent to Ukraine would underpin that message and would have a better chance than anything else of persuading Putin to replace fake negotiations with the real thing.—
The Editors,
National Review,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
As a 35-year-old who is going through a lot of hormonal changes postpartum, my skin craves the extra hydration, but breaks out if formulas are too oily.—
Gina Vaynshteyn,
StyleCaster,
9 July 2025
-
Sop up any oily residue with a paper towel, then sprinkle with baby powder.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
The soundtrack that accompanied her film A Star Is Born, which is credited to the singer-songwriter as well as Bradley Cooper, was certified double platinum back in 2019.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
The unfortunate frame began with a Davis Schneider double, which knocked Carlos Rodón out of the game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 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
-
Also sickening is Aja, transforming from cocoon to butterfly — unfortunately, Jasmine Masters will see her in court.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
4 July 2025
-
The portal that allows the players to go from school to school is also sickening.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
But the dustup over the building renovation is just a superficial sign of the underlying tension between the administration and the central bank.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
14 July 2025
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These outcomes reflect the program’s focus on authentic skill development rather than superficial exposure.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
But not Hochman, whose strained diplomacy has raised eyebrows.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
-
The story of Mbappe’s move to the Bernabeu last summer and his strained relations with PSG could fill several tomes, given the intensity of Madrid’s almost decade-long pursuit of the forward — and the fallout continues to this day.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unctuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unctuous. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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