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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Neem oil: $12 Use neem oil on your indoor plants in the spring as a preventative measure against common pests and diseases to protect them throughout the growing season. — Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025 Since these materials are foundational to the construction and maintenance of oil and gas and infrastructure assets, their escalating costs directly inflate the value required to replicate existing infrastructure. — Mark Le Dain, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
Moments later, it is stretched out, oiled and bubbly, on a sheet pan. — Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025 The Retreat features plenty of fireplaces; oiled oak parquet floors; and russet red and gold tones, in everything from the curtains to the couches. — Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oil
  1. painting
  2. grease
  3. canvas
Noun
  • Erik also threw himself into painting, becoming a skilled artist, producing intricate oil paintings and contributing to murals across the prison yard.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025
  • In 2020, Van Gogh Institute director Wouter van der Veen learned of the plot of land after comparing an early 20th-century image that matched the roots in Van Gogh’s painting to the work itself, which was created in the the days before his suicide in a nearby wheat field.
    — Angelica Villa for ARTNews, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of painting
Verb
  • Yes, palms still get greased at times, but credible penalties and consistent enforcement act as strong deterrents to routine corruption.
    — Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Finding the formulas that won’t grease up, cake up, or make your foundation or concealer slip and slide.
    — Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of grease
Noun
  • The horizon is low and the pale blue sky occupies most of the monumental canvas.
    — Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The high-top comes in a neutral White Sand hue, while dimensionality is added through a suede and canvas materialization.
    — Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of canvas

Phrases Containing oil

Browse Nearby Words

ohs
oil
oiled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oil. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on oil

Nglish: Translation of oil for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oil

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All