Antonyms for unctuousness


Grammar : Noun
Spell : uhngk-choo-uh s
Phonetic Transcription : ˈʌŋk tʃu əs


Definition of unctuousness

Origin :
  • late 14c., "oily," from Old French unctueus, from Medieval Latin unctuosus "greasy," from Latin unctus "act of anointing," from past participle stem of unguere "to anoint" (see unguent).
  • Figurative sense of "blandly ingratiating" is first recorded 1742, perhaps in part with a literal sense, but in part a sarcastic usage from unction in the meaning "deep spiritual feeling" (1690s), such as comes from having been anointed in the rite of unction. Related: Unctuously; unctuousness.
  • As in lip service : noun empty talk
  • As in pharisaism : noun hypocrisy
  • As in phoniness : noun hypocrisy
  • As in sanctimoniousness : noun hypocrisy
  • As in sanctimony : noun hypocrisy
  • As in tartuffery : noun hypocrisy
  • As in two-facedness : noun hypocrisy
  • As in flattery : noun false praise, compliments
  • As in hypocrisy : noun deceitfulness, pretense
Example sentences :
  • "It's the name of a shell, my dear,—just the name of a shell," explained Rollins with some unctuousness.
  • Extract from : « Rainy Week » by Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
  • Beside it Claude's has a suspicion, at least, of unctuousness.
  • Extract from : « French Art » by W. C. Brownell
  • They are also sometimes called Fat Oils, on account of their unctuousness, in which they exceed all other sorts of Oil.
  • Extract from : « Elements of the Theory and Practice of Chymistry, 5th ed. » by Pierre Joseph Macquer
  • To such a mind there is no unctuousness, by which ideas may be fastened upon others without their assent.
  • Extract from : « The Behavior of Crowds » by Everett Dean Martin
  • Sometimes, as in the case of Oehlenschlger, advancing years produce in the talent a suspicion of corpulence, of unctuousness.
  • Extract from : « Main Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature, Vol. II (of 6): The Romantic School in Germany » by Georg Brandes
  • But before the sudden woodeny set of his daughter's placid mouth his unctuousness twisted just a little bit wryly on his lips.
  • Extract from : « Little Eve Edgarton » by Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
  • Hate and love, unctuousness or slime, which is particularly obnoxious in some religious people.
  • Extract from : « William Blake » by Charles Gardner
  • He smiled as he spoke with the unctuousness of a villain administering poison in a bouquet of roses.
  • Extract from : « Erik Dorn » by Ben Hecht
  • Its words drop fatness, its face oozes with unctuousness, its eyes swim with dews of mirth.
  • Extract from : « The Knickerbocker, Vol. 57, No. 1, January 1861 » by Various
  • There was an unctuousness in his courtesy that irritated Philip, but perhaps Philip envied him his place in the gig.
  • Extract from : « Wenderholme » by Philip Gilbert Hamerton

Synonyms for unctuousness

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019