Unctuous: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿคฅ
Add to dictionary

unctuous

 

[ หˆสŒล‹k.tสƒu.ษ™s ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

describing behavior

Excessively smooth or smug; insincerely polite or ingratiating.

Synonyms

fawning, obsequious, oily, sycophantic

Examples of usage

  • He greeted her with an unctuous smile.
  • She made an unctuous apology for her mistake.
  • The salesman's unctuous manner put off many customers.
  • Her unctuous compliments were clearly insincere.
  • The politician's unctuous speech failed to convince the voters.

Translations

Translations of the word "unctuous" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น untuoso

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคšเคฟเค•เคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช salbungsvoll

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ berminyak

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะผะฐัะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ tล‚usty

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆป‘ใ‚‰ใ‹ใช

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท onctueux

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ untuoso

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท yaฤŸlฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ธฐ๋ฆ„๊ธฐ ์žˆ๋Š”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฏู‡ู†ูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mastnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ mastnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆฒน่…ป็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ mastno

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ feitur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะผะฐะนะปั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒชแƒฎแƒ˜แƒ›แƒ˜แƒแƒœแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ yaฤŸlฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ untuoso

Etymology

The word 'unctuous' comes from the Latin word 'unctus', meaning 'anointed' or 'greased'. Originally, 'unctuous' was used in a positive sense to refer to someone who was smooth, suave, and polished. However, over time, the word has taken on a negative connotation, describing behavior that is excessively smooth or smug, often with an insincere or ingratiating tone.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,609, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.