smarmy

"The earnest of the student's commitment was evident in the many hours she dedicated to studying. "

"The mechanic applied an unctuous lubricant to the rusty gears to make them move smoothly. "

"The class squirmed and fidgeted in the uncomfortable new chairs."

"To get a good grade on the upcoming history exam, Maria was ingratiating herself with the strict teacher by always volunteering to help. "

"He protested his innocence to the end, claiming he had been falsely charged and convicted."

"He used a generous amount of pomade to slick back his hair before the dance. "

"My uncle owns a small business selling handmade jewelry. "

"I overdid the sweets during the holidays and put on some weight."

"Her performance earned her many compliments from the audience. "

"I tried to rollerblade, but I couldn’t."

"The salesman at the electronics store showed my dad several different laptops. "

"a greasy mineral"