grease

verb

ˈgrēs How to pronounce grease (audio)
Definition of greasenext
1
as in to oil
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction make sure you grease the pan before you put the batter in

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to facilitate
to free from obstruction or difficulty your help might grease the complicated adoption proceedings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grease David Luiz, Samuel Eto’o, Andre Schurrle — all these players contributed in some way to Chelsea’s success during the years when various fixers and middlemen were having their palms greased. — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Whether they're getting greased after a Super Bowl or spoiling All-Star rosters, does any city's poles get as much attention as Philadelphia's? — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 Proponents hope the move – also known as the PhilAtom Law – will boost public trust and grease the wheels of foreign investment. — Lorela U. Sandoval, Christian Science Monitor, 25 June 2026 This is political malpractice, designed to grease DeSantis’ path to the presidency and let legislators lie to voters about having cut taxes. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for grease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grease
  1. oil
  2. facilitate
  3. wax
  4. lubricate
  5. wet
Verb
  • Bulloch notes skipping oiling the grates is another common mistake.
    — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Botero uses the Hair & Scalp Oil for traditional Ayurvedic hair oiling treatments.
    — Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of oil
Verb
  • Slow disintegration also appears in a triptych of videos by Ismail Ghanbari (facilitated by Tala Madani but not credited as a collaboration).
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Treasury's statement noted that violations can carry civil or criminal penalties, and that foreign financial institutions facilitating transactions for those sanctioned under one of the relevant executive orders could face secondary sanctions.
    — Richard Escobedo, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of facilitate
Verb
  • Admittedly, this scribe has waxed lovingly about way too many Broncos backs over the years.
    — Brad Evans, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Keep in mind that tonight’s waxing gibbous moon will be 60 percent illuminated, which could make spotting fainter auroras tricky.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of wax
Verb
  • This is often achieved through lubricating the stomach or digestive tract.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • If your shutters have hinges, clean the hardware and lubricate the hinges every month to keep them working properly.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of lubricate
Verb
  • Arrange some small, flat stones around the puddle to give the butterflies a place to land, and then add enough water to moisten or wet the sand.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Pyne argues that Mediterranean Europe, much like California, is naturally predisposed to burn because of an annual cycle of wetting and drying.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of wet

Phrases Containing grease

Browse Nearby Words

grazing
grease
greased
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Cite this Entry

“Grease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grease. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on grease

Nglish: Translation of grease for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grease

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