unction
Smug fervent manner
Unction is the act of anointing with oil, especially in religious ceremonies: extreme unction is the last rites administered to the dying.
The word extends to anything that soothes or comforts like a healing balm.
More often, unction describes an oily, excessively earnest manner of speaking—fervent sincerity that feels performative or smug: He delivered his condolences with practiced unction.
Slippery viscous fluid
- balmHealing topical preparation
- salveTopical healing preparation
- chrismConsecrated anointing substance
- linimentMedicated rub for soreness
emollient · cream · pomade · lubricant · lotion · dressing · topical · application
Having healing properties
- therapeuticPromoting healing or wellness
- remedyCurative treatment or fix
- cureTreatment that heals
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
palliative · relief · restoration · convalescence · treatment · recuperation · salve · balm
Consecrated anointing substance
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
- consecrationDedicating to sacred purpose
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
absolution · last rites · holy orders · blessing · liturgy · priest · bishop · laying on of hands
Insincere fawning behavior
- oilinessSlick, fatty texture
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- unctuousnessExcessive, insincere earnestness
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
obsequiousness · sycophancy · affected · glib · slick · suave · smooth-talking · pretense
oil
Slippery viscous fluid
- balmHealing topical preparation
- salveTopical healing preparation
- chrismConsecrated anointing substance
liniment · emollient · cream · pomade · lubricant · lotion · dressing · topical · application · rub
medicinal
Having healing properties
- therapeuticPromoting healing or wellness
- remedyCurative treatment or fix
- cureTreatment that heals
soothing · palliative · relief · restoration · convalescence · treatment · recuperation · salve · balm · comfort
chrism
Consecrated anointing substance
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
- consecrationDedicating to sacred purpose
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
confirmation · absolution · last rites · holy orders · blessing · liturgy · priest · bishop · laying on of hands · altar
smarm
Insincere fawning behavior
- oilinessSlick, fatty texture
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- unctuousnessExcessive, insincere earnestness
fawning · obsequiousness · sycophancy · affected · glib · slick · suave · smooth-talking · pretense · insincere
earnestness
Genuine seriousness of intent
piety · sincerity · ardor · intensity · spirituality · reverence · faith · sanctity · blessedness · godliness
- hypocrisyhypocrisy, hypocrite, sanctimony, two-faced, self-righteousness
- sacramentsbaptism, christening, confirmation, communion, matrimony
- Holy SpiritHoly Spirit, pneuma, advocate, helper, third person
- liturgyDivine Office, missal, lectionary, rite, Tridentine Mass
- OrthodoxyEastern Orthodoxy, church fathers, Nicene Creed, synods, prostrations
- sacred oilsholy oil, chrism, blessed oil
unctionprofanation
Violation of sanctity
desecration · sacrilege · blasphemy · impiety · defilement
unctionsincerity
Honest, unfeigned genuineness
bluntness · directness · candor · plainness · forthrightness
- holy unctionSacramental oil blessing
junction, conjunction, injunction, junctions, disjunction, subjunctive, disjunctive, conjunctive