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
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
The pickled mustard seeds provide little pears of flavor and an edge of acid that cuts through the unctuous dish.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 30 Dec. 2024
Pasta sauces are unctuous, and the tiramisu made my lactose-intolerant dining companion giddy.
—Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unctuous
Edmund Tijerina, Bon Appétit, 27 Feb. 2025
Mandelson is a deeply charming, borderline unctuous character.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
The pickled mustard seeds provide little pears of flavor and an edge of acid that cuts through the unctuous dish.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 30 Dec. 2024
Pasta sauces are unctuous, and the tiramisu made my lactose-intolerant dining companion giddy.
—Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unctuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unctuous
Adjective
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Later, it's revealed that Phelps didn't die at all, and his fake death was a setup to frame Ethan.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
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San Diego airport threat: Military member arrested after bomb threat at San Diego International Airport Ex-LA deputy mayor used voice application for fake bomb threat Prosecutors did not provide a motive for the false bomb threat, but detailed Williams' process to conceal the origin of the threat.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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He was covered in an oily substance, terrified, and wouldn’t eat.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
24 May 2025
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The downsides are that DEET smells awful, is oily, and can damage anything with plastic in it, like synthetic clothing and camping gear.—
Kristin Canning,
Wired News,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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As Spain’s only double Oscar-qualifying animation festival, Animayo’s top honors serve as a launchpad to the Academy Awards.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
29 May 2025
-
In 2012, Julie Chrisley, the daughter of a Baptist minister, leaned into the strength of their family and faith after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double masectomy as part of the treatment.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
29 May 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
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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
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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
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For lip color, reach for the Merit Beauty Signature lipsticks.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But the defense is hoping to cast her recollections merely as sickening details in a deranged love story between two consenting and jealous adults.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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For years, raw sewage from Mexico has poured across the border into Southern California, fouling beaches, sickening residents and sparking diplomatic as well as environmental concerns.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 May 2025
Adjective
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Full look: Burberry; socks: stylist’s own Gorka Postigo The phenomenon of celebrities speaking out about current events can sometimes feel superficial, but Ramsey is quick to affirm the opposite of Pascal.—
Peyton Dix,
Them.,
27 May 2025
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Some journalists refused to use AI for anything more than superficial interview transcription, while others use it broadly, to edit text, answer research questions, summarize large bodies of science text, or search massive troves of data for salient bits of information.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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His strained, sandpaper-coarse timbre served as an ideal conduit for songs concerned with boisterous revelries, shady agreements, licentious intentions and musical pleasures.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
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During a father-son fishing trip alongside Dawson and his dad (John Wesley Shipp), Pacey's strained relationship with his parent bubbles up.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unctuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unctuous. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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