paper over

verb

papered over; papering over; papers over

transitive verb

1

: to gloss over, explain away, or patch up (differences, disparities, etc.) especially in order to maintain a semblance of unity or agreement

2

: hide, conceal

Synonyms

• blink (at)
• brush (aside or off)
• condone
• discount
• disregard
• excuse
• forgive
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)
• ignore
• overlook
• overpass
• pardon
• pass over
• remit
• shrug off
• whitewash
• wink (at)

Examples of paper over in a Sentence

the differences between the two factions are too great to be papered over in the name of party unity

the company tried to paper over its red ink, issuing assurances that it was still financially sound

Recent Examples on the Web

During the delousing, the restaurant’s front windows were papered over so that the mandatory public health closure notice was not visible to the public (or investors). —John McDermott, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025

Gap’s storefront was papered over with a sign that its store is getting a refresh and will reopen in August. —Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2025

The 2008 crisis taught us that complexity can’t paper over unsustainable fundamentals. —Jemma Green, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025

Ethics are now a bore since unethical behavior can always be papered over with tricks such as deceptive statistics and abstruse legal arguments. —Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for paper over

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• leftover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover