Class: adjective | Syllables: UNK-chuh-wus

Definition: Unctuous is a formal word used to describe someone who speaks and behaves in a way that is meant to seem friendly and polite but that is unpleasant because it is obviously not sincere. It can also mean “fatty,” “oily,” and “smooth and greasy in texture or appearance.”

Example(s):
// Politicians are often at their most unctuous during election years, full of empty promises made solely to win over certain voters.
// Braising chicken thighs with their skins on creates a rich, unctuous sauce that can be spooned back over the finished dish.