Unctuous
adjective
Acting in a way that is too friendly or shows too much praise, usually in order to get something from someone.
He gave me an unctuous smile and ushered me into his office.
Often appears as...
- unctuous praise
- unctuous smile
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Describes something that is oily or greasy.
The food at the roadside restaurant was overly unctuous.
Often appears as...
- unctuous food
- unctuous substance
adjective
Acting in a way that is too friendly or shows too much praise, usually in order to get something from someone.
He gave me an unctuous smile and ushered me into his office.
Often appears as...
- unctuous praise
- unctuous smile
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Describes something that is oily or greasy.
The food at the roadside restaurant was overly unctuous.
Often appears as...
- unctuous food
- unctuous substance
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Insincerity
Unctuous behavior often implies dishonesty or pretending to be nice.
His unctuous compliments felt empty and deceitful.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Motives
The word is used when someone is overly friendly for self-serving reasons.
The salesman's unctuous demeanor made me skeptical.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive to Negative
'Unctuous' often starts with a positive impression then shifts to a negative feeling.
I was put off by his unctuous charm; it seemed fake.
Pro Tip 1/3Insincerity
Unctuous behavior often implies dishonesty or pretending to be nice.
His unctuous compliments felt empty and deceitful.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Motives
The word is used when someone is overly friendly for self-serving reasons.
The salesman's unctuous demeanor made me skeptical.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive to Negative
'Unctuous' often starts with a positive impression then shifts to a negative feeling.
I was put off by his unctuous charm; it seemed fake.
Pro Tip 1/3Insincerity
Unctuous behavior often implies dishonesty or pretending to be nice.
His unctuous compliments felt empty and deceitful.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Motives
The word is used when someone is overly friendly for self-serving reasons.
The salesman's unctuous demeanor made me skeptical.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive to Negative
'Unctuous' often starts with a positive impression then shifts to a negative feeling.
I was put off by his unctuous charm; it seemed fake.
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Video examples
Benjamin Wallace: The...
And you know, it had this fragrant softness, and it smelled a little bit of linseed oil. And then I tasted it, and it, you know, had this kind of unctuous, porty richness, which is characteristic of that wine --
Video examples
Benjamin Wallace: The...
And you know, it had this fragrant softness, and it smelled a little bit of linseed oil. And then I tasted it, and it, you know, had this kind of unctuous, porty richness, which is characteristic of that wine --
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Alexander Armstrong
English Actor
I have a horrible capacity to be unctuous to people I want to impress.
Quote examples
Alexander Armstrong
English Actor
I have a horrible capacity to be unctuous to people I want to impress.
Example 1 of 1
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