Standard Lemma guide

unctuousness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈʌŋkt͡ʃuəsnəs/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state or characteristic of being unctuous.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unctuosity

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

smug self-serving earnestness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fulsomeness, oiliness, oleaginousness, smarminess, unction

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hypocrisy

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English unctuous Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English unctuousness From unctuous + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hindi: चिकनाई (ciknāī) — the state or characteristic of being unctuous
  • Irish: ungthacht — the state or characteristic of being unctuous
  • Irish: olar — the state or characteristic of being unctuous
  • Irish: plásántacht — the state or characteristic of being unctuous
  • Sanskrit: स्नेह (sneha) — the state or characteristic of being unctuous
  • Spanish: untuosidad — the state or characteristic of being unctuous
  • Turkish: yılışıklık — the state or characteristic of being unctuous