NSW Selective & Scholarship

Learn “Unctuous

A free exam-vocabulary guide with a precise meaning, natural context and a memory connection that makes the word easier to retrieve.

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NSW Selective & Scholarship

Unctuous

adjective/unk-choo-us/

(of a person) excessively or ingratiatingly flattering; oily.

His unctuous compliments made her wary.

From Latin for ointment — unctuous people are oily, slippery with greasy flattery.

A cutting character word — use for insincere flatterers in narratives; stronger than 'fake'.