elephant in the room
noun phrase
: an obvious major problem or issue that people avoid discussing or acknowledging
Examples of elephant in the room in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That gap, between a vibe that was invariably described as immaculate in 2024 and one that resonated at a different wavelength in 2025, is the elephant in the room for these Mets.
—
Tim Britton, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Yeah, why not address the elephant in the room?
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
To call the viral moment in question the elephant in the room is to dwarf it.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 23 Sep. 2025
The Fed’s status has become the elephant in the room in the previous legal battles.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elephant in the room
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Tim Britton, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Yeah, why not address the elephant in the room?
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
To call the viral moment in question the elephant in the room is to dwarf it.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 23 Sep. 2025
The Fed’s status has become the elephant in the room in the previous legal battles.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elephant in the room
Cite this Entry
“Elephant in the room.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant%20in%20the%20room. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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