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
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
Designed for sensitive and oily to acne-prone skin, the all-in-one cleanser and makeup remover delivers a 12-hour matte finish to control shine and reduce excess oil without stripping the skin.
—
Catherine Santino, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
Eating healthy, oily fish, which are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, is encouraged, while eggs, dairy and poultry are eaten in much smaller portions than in the traditional Western diet.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025
Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid, azelaic acid, niacinamide, kojic acid
Best For: All skin types, but especially acne-prone or oily skin
Size: 1.7 fl.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2025
An oily, gentle mouth feel with silky acidity and flavors that include a honey/menthol tilt with salinity on the finish.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
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Catherine Santino, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
Eating healthy, oily fish, which are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, is encouraged, while eggs, dairy and poultry are eaten in much smaller portions than in the traditional Western diet.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025
Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid, azelaic acid, niacinamide, kojic acid
Best For: All skin types, but especially acne-prone or oily skin
Size: 1.7 fl.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2025
An oily, gentle mouth feel with silky acidity and flavors that include a honey/menthol tilt with salinity on the finish.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oily
Cite this Entry
“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oily. Accessed 15 Mar. 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
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