unctuous
adjective (formal disapproving)

- unctuous people or behaviour expresses too much praise, interest, friendliness, etc., in a way that is false and unpleasant

- having, revealing, or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality

- excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily

- fatty, oily, smooth and greasy in texture or appearance (of a substance)

Cambridge Dictionary /  Oxford Languages / Merriam-Webster

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WORD ORIGIN

The word "unctuous" derives from the Latin term unctuosus, which is the adjective form of unctus, meaning "anointed" or "greased." The Latin root ungere means "to anoint" or "to smear with oil." In its original usage, "unctuous" referred to the act of applying or having an oily or greasy substance on the skin or hair.

Over time, the meaning of "unctuous" expanded metaphorically to describe people or things that display an excessive or insincere display of politeness, charm, or ingratiating behaviour. It connotes a sense of exaggerated smoothness or superficiality, much like an excessive application of oil or ointment.

The term "unctuous" has retained this figurative sense in modern English and is commonly used to describe someone who is excessively flattering, insincere, or hypocritical in their manner or speech.

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THE UNCTUOUS CARDINAL
Richelieu's Path to Power

In the illustrious court of King Louis XIII, one figure stood out for his extraordinary political ability – Cardinal Richelieu. As chief minister, he wove a powerful web of influence — behind an affable facade, lay a brilliant mind skilled in the art of manipulation.

Richelieu possessed the rare talent to bend others to his will, using smooth-talking and a persuasive demeanour to mask his true intentions.

The Cardinal's influence extended far beyond the palace walls. During the Thirty Years' War his shrewd tactics extended France's power across Europe.

While Richelieu's methods may have lacked sincerity, there was no denying his political genius. Feared and respected in equal measure, he was a force to be reckoned with and a reminder of the unctuous manipulator who left an indelible mark on history.

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SYNONYMS

all talk and no substance, artful, backhanded, beguiling, bootlicking, brown-nosing, calculating, cloying, crafty, cunning, deceitful, deceptive, deceitful, disingenuous, disloyal, dissembling, double-crossing (-dealing), duplicitous, fake, fast-talking, flattering, flimflamming, foxy, glib (-tongued), greasy, guileful, honey-dipped, honeyed, hypocritical, ingratiating, insincere, like butter, Machiavellian, oily (-tongued), phony (-baloney), plastic, scheming, servile, silver-tongued (devil), silky, sly, slick (as an eel, operator), slickster, slimy, smooth (as silk, operator, -talking, -spoken), snake-in-the-grass, snake-like, snake oil salesman, sneaky, subservient, sugarcoated, syrupy (sweet), sweet-talking, toadyish, treacherous, tricky, two-faced, UNCTUOUS, untrustworthy, used car salesman, wheedling, wily

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“How do you handle UNCTUOUS charmers, especially those callers hoping to wheedle their way into selling you something?”

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