Definition of unctuousnext
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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 unctuous Here are details on the sweet, tiny bites of unctuous decadence, and the fluffy, bogus cones best left in the freezer. Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 3 June 2026 All the women are obsessed with an oily, unctuous man named Johnny Thunders (Dougray Scott), who’s now married to Elle’s ex-lover Dominique (Liu). Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 May 2026 Zesty juniper-forward versions soar in a classic Negroni, floral gins impress in a rosy gin-kombucha cocktail, and unctuous savory gin is indelible in a 50/50 martini. Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2026 While the unctuous oxtail is a strong contender, and the patties are a must, the jerk chicken is still the star of the show. Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unctuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unctuous
Adjective
  • First was a Drug Enforcement Administration badge and ID with Horsch’s photo on it, but the ID was fake, and Horsch has never worked for the DEA, according to court documents.
    Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • This game preserves the difficulty of coming up with an elaborate, consistent false narrative on the spot, and the challenge of adapting that narrative on the fly when other players present convincing (and sometimes fake) counter-evidence.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • The salsa macha is an oily, toasty condiment pasty with peanuts and sesame seeds.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Eucerin’s Clear Skin Sunscreen is formulated with oily, acne-prone skin in mind.
    Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • Taylor Walls recorded three hits while Chandler Simpson added a double and a single.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • Resting options include double bunk beds in back and queen bed with bamboo mattress up front.
    Kris Millgate, USA Today, 1 July 2026
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
  • 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
Adjective
  • Then there’s the risk of higher frustration and strained relationships across an organization.
    Kamya Elawadhi, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • But for Chris Williams, an 18-year employee of the California Department of Education, the contentious return-to-office process may have teed up a strained relationship with downtown.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Toxic fumes are leaking into airplanes and sickening passengers and crew members at an alarming rate, according to a September 2025 report by The Wall Street Journal.
    Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
  • The concept of this many women vying for West is somewhat sickening to me.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • Context that lacks acknowledgment comes across as defensive, and acknowledgment that lacks context comes across superficial.
    Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • At the most superficial level, the DSA influx has associated Democrats with a series of kooky beliefs and statements.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • 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
  • The announcement may come as a shock for country fans who have followed the couple through their sappy podcast appearances and gushy acceptance speeches.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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