oil 1 of 2

noun

ˈȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce oil (audio)
Definition of oilnext
as in painting
a picture created with oil paint that artist is known to have created only oils and charcoal sketches

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oil

2 of 2

verb

as in to grease
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

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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 oil
Noun
Oman has said that any agreement will comply with international law, although the prospect of a financial system on a waterway that typically handles around 20% of the world's oil has sparked alarm. — Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 4 July 2026 Most of us, for instance, are not the oil company executives who were told about the effects of CO2 emissions back in the 1970s and decided that the threat to their business outweighed the threat to the planet. — Gabriel Winslow-Yost, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Verb
Cavallari posted a clip of her and her oiled-up, bronzed six-pack in action on Instagram. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026 Heat the oven to 350 degrees or prepare a grill for direct cooking over medium heat and lightly oil the grill grates. — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for oil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oil
  1. painting
  2. grease
  3. canvas
Noun
  • Hitler’s picture was exchanged for a painting of Alexander Hamilton, the father of the Coast Guard.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Because a painting is only as good as its canvas, this 2-in-1 priming and setting spray was used to prep the skin before blush and other makeup products.
    — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of painting
Verb
  • Whether they're getting greased after a Super Bowl or spoiling All-Star rosters, does any city's poles get as much attention as Philadelphia's?
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
  • Proponents hope the move – also known as the PhilAtom Law – will boost public trust and grease the wheels of foreign investment.
    — Lorela U. Sandoval, Christian Science Monitor, 25 June 2026
Definition of grease
Noun
  • The coated canvas is super durable and will only get better with age.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 4 July 2026
  • Its link with the automobile world dates back to 1897, with the launch of Georges Vuitton’s pioneering Malle Auto car trunk made of durable Vuittonite canvas.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 July 2026
Definition of canvas

Phrases Containing oil

Browse Nearby Words

ohs
oil
oiled
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Cite this Entry

“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on oil

Nglish: Translation of oil for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oil

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