OLEAGINOUS Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

oleaginous

adjective

ˌō-lē-ˈa-jə-nəs

Definition of oleaginous

as in oily

overly or insincerely flattering the office manager greeted the corporate bigwigs with an oleaginous welcome that should have embarrassed him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 oleaginous 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 Ted Cruz, the perennial front-runner, is smug and oleaginous—hated equally by his colleagues and the public. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 26 Sep. 2022 The interludes make for juicy lampoons of that unfortunate Western export, oleaginous showbiz faux-intimacy. — Peter Marks, Washington Post, 21 June 2022 The French state is represented effectively here by oleaginous High Commissioner De Roller (Magimel), a European long based in Tahiti. — Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 May 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oleaginous

Adjective

Others have used it to remove oily stains from their toddlers like crayon marks on carpet, and one reviewer says it’s saved many of their clothes from being ruined in a household with unavoidable messes from both kids and pets.

— Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
The intention of peptide users is to have the muscle-building effects of anabolic steroids without the side effects of infertility, oily skin, acne, liver inflammation, and so on.

— Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of oily

Adjective

Book a sunset seating and pair unctuous langoustine nigiri and wagyu tataki with beautifully balanced cocktails flavored with yuzu, Japanese ume apricots, and cherry blossom.

— Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026
Tucci co-wrote the script (with his cousin, Joseph Tropiano) and co-directed with actor Campbell Scott, who also plays a supporting role in the film as an unctuous Cadillac sales man.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of unctuous

Adjective

Its pristine, almost peaceful harps make the song sound somehow pleasantly sickening.

— Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026
Ole Miss scored two more touchdowns, and whatever momentum Texas had was replaced by that familiar sickening feeling.

— Mac Engel October 25, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of sickening

Adjective

Toei had close ties to the Yamaguchi-gumi, the biggest gang in Japan; in the early seventies, the syndicate boss’s son helped make a series of hagiographic films about his father—played by Ken-san.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Consider Tom Brady’s 199 Productions — so far, the company’s output has almost exclusively been hagiographic documentaries and films about Brady’s illustrious football career.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of hagiographic

Adjective

Key Takeaways Wash removable parts daily with warm, soapy water to prevent residue and bacteria.

— Patricia S York, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
The Netflix series from Rebecca Cutter starring Malin Akerman and Brittany Snow, who lead a cutthroat yet soapy set of Texas housewives, has nabbed a season three renewal ahead of season two’s return.

— Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of soapy

Adjective

Ask for coconut sorbet, made from the abundant on-property supply.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
It's been more than a decade since tech companies first came to Ohio, drawn by the state's inexpensive and abundant land, its energy infrastructure and its generous tax breaks.

— Andrea Hsu, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of abundant

Adjective

But something about the Ferris wheel, summer sunsets and general overindulgence convinced me that Wisconsin State Fair might just be the perfect place for romantic declarations, first dates, and altogether gushy moments.

— Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Except for the unfettered devotion in the latter is replaced by swooping strings and a gushy chorus that merely offer an antiseptic veneer.

— Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 June 2026

Definition of gushy

Browse Nearby Words

old-world

oleaginous

oligarchies

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Oleaginous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oleaginous. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of oleaginous

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

shindig

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes