gloss (over)

verb

Definition of gloss (over)next
1
as in to excuse
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses I don't want to gloss over her misbehavior, but keep in mind that she's been under a lot of stress lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to ignore
to dismiss as of little importance this biographer tends to gloss over his subject's many character flaws

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gloss (over)
  1. excuse
  2. ignore
  3. justify
  4. forgive
  5. explain
  6. overlook
  7. explain away
Verb
  • And while the challenges of the job don’t excuse the criminal actions, researchers and legal experts said, those experiences can often contribute to their behavioral issues.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Every so often, Singh would excuse himself to the bathroom and jot down Pattinson’s ideas.
    — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • There is so much going on in all of our lives but far too much beauty in this world to ignore.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Many structures are built with substandard materials and safety regulations are frequently ignored to reduce costs.
    — Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignore
Verb
  • The targeting of civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, particularly airports, illustrates the retaliatory logic the Houthis have invoked to justify their actions.
    — Laurent Bonnefoy, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
  • There is always a new spectacle, a new gimmick to lure people into a theater and justify the cost of a ticket.
    — Sam Fleischner, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • Season one struggled to incorporate all of those elements of Lee without either forgiving or betraying his flaws.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The technique is simple, the result is visible and the cut list is forgiving.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of forgive
Verb
  • An elephantine star becoming a black hole doesn’t explain it either.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Maybe this explains why Effective Altruism—the idea that generosity should be subjected to evidence and calculation—seemed counterintuitive.
    — David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • No little detail is overlooked, from interesting on-site activities (like watercolor painting in the courtyard) to immaculate turndown service.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The world may be overlooking its next important medical discovery.
    — Segun Fatumo, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of overlook
Verb
  • In an effort to explain away his decision, Kiffin reintroduced old ghosts.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The conversation kicked off with a discussion of faith and the rush to scientifically explain away events that may be divinely touched.
    — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of explain away
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.

Browse Nearby Words

glossing (over)
gloss (over)
glossy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gloss (over).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gloss%20%28over%29. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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