unctuous

/ˈʌŋktʃuəs/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈʌŋtʃwəs] /ˈʌŋktʃuəs/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈʌŋtʃwəs] /ˈəŋ(k)-chə-wəs How to pronounce unctuous (audio) -chəs,  -shwəs/ (ame, mw)

unctuous — adjective

  • unctuouspositive
  • more unctuouscomparative
  • most unctuoussuperlative

1. describes a person whose excessive flattery or eagerness to please feels fake, l

1.形容詞C2
釋義

describes a person whose excessive flattery or eagerness to please feels fake, leaving those around them uncomfortable

例句

Rin found the salesperson's unctuous compliments impossible to trust.

unctuous + compliments

When Tendai asked a simple question, the waiter's unctuous reply lasted two minutes.

同義詞
  • ingratiating

    milder; can sometimes describe genuine attempts to win favour, not always fake

  • smarmy

    informal; carries a stronger sense of distaste and sliminess

  • obsequious

    stresses excessive obedience and bowing to authority rather than false friendliness

  • oily

    more colloquial; directly evokes the metaphor of physical grease

反義詞
  • sincere

    straightforwardly honest and genuine in manner

  • genuine

    truly felt, without pretence

用法筆記

In modern English this word almost always describes a person's social manner or speech, not physical oiliness — the older literal meaning 'greasy, oily' is now rare outside historical texts.

常見錯誤

❌The mechanic had unctuous hands after fixing the engine.
✅The mechanic had greasy hands after fixing the engine.
💡unctuous describes insincere social behaviour, not physical oiliness.