smarmiest
Maximally falsely flattering
Smarmiest is the superlative form of smarmy—the most excessively flattering, ingratiating, or unctuous.
It describes someone whose charm feels oily and insincere: He was the smarmiest salesman I'd ever met.
The word suggests behavior that's meant to ingratiate but instead provokes distrust or revulsion.
Fraudulent person or thing
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- fakeNot the real thing
- feignedFalsely displayed or simulated
- hypocriticalFeigning beliefs one lacks
two-faced · artificial · affected · pretentious · contrived · deceptive · false · specious
Covered in grease
- greasyCovered in slick fat
- slickSmooth or craftily adept
- slimyWet, slippery, unpleasant
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
buttery · smooth · glib · silky · syrupy · saccharine · honeyed · sugary
Crafty and calculating
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
crafty · underhanded · wily · guileful · covert · designing · ingratiating · wheedling
Smooth or craftily adept
- glibSuperficially articulate
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
- polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
- urbaneRefined and courteous
debonair · sophisticated · charming · silver-tongued · practiced · rehearsed · pat · facile
Disreputable or sun-blocked
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- shiftySeeming dishonest or evasive
- crookedBent or dishonest
- disreputableHaving poor standing
unreliable · suspicious · sleazy · dodgy · sketchy · seedy · louche · unsavory
phony
Fraudulent person or thing
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- fakeNot the real thing
- feignedFalsely displayed or simulated
hypocritical · two-faced · artificial · affected · pretentious · contrived · deceptive · false · specious · superficial
oily
Covered in grease
slippery · buttery · smooth · glib · silky · syrupy · saccharine · honeyed · sugary · treacly
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
conniving · crafty · underhanded · wily · guileful · covert · designing · ingratiating · wheedling · cajoling
slick
Smooth or craftily adept
- glibSuperficially articulate
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
- polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
urbane · debonair · sophisticated · charming · silver-tongued · practiced · rehearsed · pat · facile · plastic
shady
Disreputable or sun-blocked
disreputable · unreliable · suspicious · sleazy · dodgy · sketchy · seedy · louche · unsavory · questionable