Question

Unctuous (adjective)

Accepted Answer

Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness.

Unctuous comes from the Latin unctus, meaning “anointed with oil.”

A wonderful synonym for unctuous that’s a little shorter and more down to earth is smarmy, as in “The smarmy aide thought that his constant blandishments would butter up the congressman and eventually lead to an appointment.”

Front	Unctuous (adjective)
Back	Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness. Unctuous comes from the Latin unctus, meaning “anointed with oil.” A wonderful synonym for unctuous that’s a little shorter and more down to earth is smarmy, as in “The smarmy aide thought that his constant blandishments would butter up the congressman and eventually lead to an appointment.”

Unctuous Smarmy Adjective Characterized Affected Exaggerated Insincere Earnestness