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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To address the elephant in the room, no, Frida and OddFellows' Breast Milk Ice Cream is not made of real, human breast milk. Greta Cross, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025 But now some big companies are trying, as much as possible, to look beyond the trade elephant in the room. Maria Aspan, NPR, 26 July 2025 Address the elephant in the room: namely, that ever since your argument, things have been tense. Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 25 July 2025 Gaza may be on everybody’s mind, but the elephant in the room is what to do about Syria. Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for elephant in the room

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elephant in the room was in 1985

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Cite this Entry

“Elephant in the room.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant%20in%20the%20room. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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