Word Of The Day

unctuous

unctuous • \UNK-chuh-wus\  • adjective
Unctuous is a word that’s undergone change in recent years. It now often describes food that is fatty and oily, especially in a pleasing way. Formerly it was more typically applied as a formal adjective describing someone who is figuratively oily—that is, overly or insincerely flattering. Both uses can be found today.

// Braising chicken thighs with their skins on creates a rich, unctuous sauce that can be spooned back over the finished dish.

// The mayor’s unctuous assistant was making the rounds at the fundraiser, chatting up those known to have the biggest bank accounts.

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Examples:
“The thinly sliced pork belly is shaved into curlicues and cooks up super quickly and crisply, so it’s great for an impatient group or as a first round. Thick slices are more akin to what you’d find at Korean BBQ restaurants nowadays; they’ll cook and sizzle in their own fat … resulting in juicy, unctuous bites.” — Irene Yoo, Soju Party: How to Drink (and Eat!) Like a Korean, 2025

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