UNCTUOUS

buttery, fulsome, oily, oleaginous, smarmy, soapy, unctuous

(adjective) unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech; “buttery praise”; “gave him a fulsome introduction”; “an oily sycophantic press agent”; “oleaginous hypocrisy”; “smarmy self-importance”; “the unctuous Uriah Heep”; “soapy compliments”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

unctuous (comparative more unctuous, superlative most unctuous)

(of a liquid or substance) Oily or greasy.

(of a wine, coffee, sauce, gravy etc.) Rich, lush, intense, with layers of concentrated, soft, velvety flavor.

(by extension, of a person) Profusely polite, especially unpleasantly so and insincerely earnest.

Synonyms

• (of a liquid): oleaginous, saponaceous, slimy; see also unctuous

• (of wine, coffee, sauce, gravy etc.): savorous

• (profusely, especially unpleasantly, polite): creepy, effusive, groveling, oleaginous, slimy, sycophantic; see also sycophantic

Source: Wiktionary


Unc"tu*ous, a. Etym: [F. onctueux, LL. unctuosus, fr. L. unctus anointment, fr. ungere, unctum, to anoint. See Unguent.]

1. Of the nature or quality of an unguent or ointment; fatty; oily; greasy. "The unctuous cheese." Longfellow.

2. Having a smooth, greasy feel, as certain minerals.

3. Bland; suave; also, tender; fervid; as, an unctuous speech; sometimes, insincerely suave or fervid.

– Unc"tu*ous*ly, adv.

– Unc"tu*ous*ness, n.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

5 June 2025

UNDERLAY

(verb) raise or support (the level of printing) by inserting a piece of paper or cardboard under the type; “underlay the plate”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.

coffee icon