Synonyms of oil

oil 1 of 2

noun

ˈȯi(-ə)l 

as in painting

a picture created with oil paint

that artist is known to have created only oils and charcoal sketches

Synonyms & Similar Words

• painting
• canvas
• oil painting
• watercolor
• mural
• fresco
• panorama
• drawing
• acrylic
• etching
• gouache
• pastel
• masterpiece
• tempera
• diptych
• distemper
• finger painting
• sketch
• aquarelle
• triptych
• showpiece
• pièce de résistance

oil

2 of 2

verb

as in to grease

to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction

if you oil the machinery on a regular basis, it will operate more efficiently

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grease
• wax
• lubricate
• wash
• slick
• wet
• water
• soak
• bathe
• drench
• douse
• souse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rough
• dry
• roughen
• coarsen
• sear
• dehydrate
• parch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of oil

Noun

Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Roodal Moonilal has identified increasing oil and gas output, improving efficiency and positioning Trinidad and Tobago as the energy center of the southern Caribbean as key priorities. — Panorama Media Ltd, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Upward pressure on oil prices also came from concerns about further supply losses as Hurricane Isais heads towards America’s refining hub on the Gulf Coast. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Verb

Then back by a slightly different route, past more hides and oiled walnut and blued steel. — John Madson, Outdoor Life, 1 July 2026

One of the easiest ways to take care of your nails at home is by oiling them. — Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 29 June 2026

Phrases Containing oil

• oil painting
• oil the hand (of)
• oil the palm (of)