Noun: unction úngk-shun
- Anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual
"The priest performed the unction of the sick with holy oil";
- inunction
- (medicine) semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation
"The doctor prescribed an unction for the rash";
- ointment, unguent, balm, salve
- Smug self-serving earnestness
"The salesman's unction made customers uncomfortable";
- fulsomeness, oiliness, oleaginousness, smarminess [informal], unctuousness
- Excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm
"The politician's speech was full of unction, lacking any real substance";
- smarm [informal], fulsomeness
Derived forms: unctions
Type of: anointing, anointment, compliment, curative, cure, hypocrisy, religious ceremony, religious ritual, remedy, therapeutic
Encyclopedia: Unction