unctuous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A core subplot in the film involves Ella’s father, played with an unctuous, desperate charm by Harrelson, reappearing in her life after many years with his own agenda.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2025
Moreover, the script transitions him, through Finan’s effective performance, from a gawky, bespectacled nerd putting on airs, into an unctuous political predator.
From Salon ● Nov. 14, 2024
For Dolores’s first victim, Earle braised pork shoulder and butt in Achiote oil to give the filling an unctuous mouth feel — “Greasy and obnoxious,” like the character, Earle wrote in an email.
From New York Times ● Jul. 5, 2023
Yes, Wilson was his own worst enemy in many ways, with a personality that tilted toward unctuous.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 3, 2023
Inside the shop, Borgin remained frozen; his unctuous smile had vanished; he looked worried.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
Vocabulary lists containing unctuous
100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 8
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