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Synonyms for

Petroleum

Noun / pʌˈtrəʊli:ʌm / Another word for petroleum — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a dark-colored, flammable liquid found in the earth, consisting mainly of a mixture of hydrocarbons.

Synonyms & similar words

fossiloil crudeoil oil crude rockoil petrol kerosene naphtha grease lubricant paraffin wax resin

Synonyms by register

Formal

crude oil fossil fuel hydrocarbon

Informal

oil gas black gold

Literary

earth's blood ancient light

Antonyms

water wood coal biomass geothermal solar wind

Common collocations

  • crude petroleum
  • petroleum products
  • petroleum industry
  • petroleum reserves
  • petroleum gas
  • petroleum jelly
  • petroleum ether

Word family

noun petroleum
adjective petroleum

Usage note

Petroleum is a formal term. In informal contexts, 'oil' is commonly used. It refers to a naturally occurring, yellowish-black liquid found beneath the Earth's surface, which can be refined into various fuels.

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Example sentences

  1. The country's economy depends heavily on its petroleum exports.
  2. The car engine needs petroleum to run.
  3. Petroleum is a non-renewable resource.
  4. The workers on the oil rig extract petroleum from deep beneath the ground.
  5. The price of petroleum has increased over the years.

Quotes

  • "Oil is like a wild animal in captivity. When producers try to control prices, as OPEC did in the 1970s, that is like trying to tame a wild animal. The animal may appear to be tamed for a while, but eventually it will bite back." - Daniel Yergin
  • "We're going to continue to use petroleum products and coal, but we have to do it in a cleaner way. Anything we can do to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases is going to be beneficial." - Mike Pompeo
  • "The discovery of oil has been a curse in some ways, but it's also been a blessing for us in Iraq." - Ahmed Chalabi

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