oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
a
: covered or impregnated with oil
oily rags
b
: relatively high in naturally secreted oils
oily skin
oily hair
3
: excessively smooth or suave in manner
Synonyms
Examples of oily in a Sentence
The liquid has an oily feel.
a pile of oily rags
The salad dressing was very oily.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lastly, rely on a featherweight veil of setting powder strategically placed to the T-zone and oily areas to control excess shine then mist on a dose of setting spray.
—
Kiana Murden, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2025
This top pick from our moisturizer for oily skin story soothed my irritated skin and helped transform it for the better.
—Cecily McAndrews, Health, 5 Jan. 2025
Don’t remove the oily coffee film with soap or hands - that film adds richness to the flavor of the coffee.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2025
The whiskey is smooth, sweet, and creamy on the palate, with an oily, viscous quality.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for oily 
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.
Kiana Murden, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2025
This top pick from our moisturizer for oily skin story soothed my irritated skin and helped transform it for the better.
—Cecily McAndrews, Health, 5 Jan. 2025
Don’t remove the oily coffee film with soap or hands - that film adds richness to the flavor of the coffee.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2025
The whiskey is smooth, sweet, and creamy on the palate, with an oily, viscous quality.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for oily
Dictionary Entries Near oily
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oily. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oily
adjective
oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
a
: covered or soaked with oil
b
: high in oils that are naturally produced
oily skin
oiliness
noun
Medical Definition
oily
adjective
oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
: excessively high in naturally secreted oils
oily hair
oily skin
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share