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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
  • Senior quarterback Dante Moore was nowhere to be found during media availability following the Ducks' loss on the road, which was noticed by every reporter in the room, but according to head coach Dan Lanning, his absence was excused.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Choose a seat far from your brother-in-law or excuse yourself to help with the dishes.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • South Korea shifted to a softer tone under current liberal President Lee Jae Myung, but North Korea has so far ignored Lee's calls to resume diplomacy.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Dwindling visitor traffic and exhibitor numbers — and rising prices per square foot — can no longer be ignored at ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories trade shows around the world.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of ignore
Verb
  • The Italian Interior Ministry used that same threat to justify extending the border checks Tuesday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
  • First-act setups extend through the majority of the 108-minute runtime, constituting a plotless meander without the aesthetic allure to justify such a languid journey.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • But although the young crew have strong voices and deliver pretty harmonies, the pop performances sound so processed that you could be forgiven for asking if anyone is doing their own singing.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The scourge of Steve Spurrier Spurrier took too many verbal jabs to list here and took special glee in beating the Dawgs, never forgiving them for beating his Florida Gators in his 1966 senior season, ruining their SEC championship hopes.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of forgive
Verb
  • The woman who had compiled the Handy Hints book helpfully explained these technical details to Flynn, whispering in his ear like someone translating a foreign language.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of explaining why something happened after the fact, the organization helps the customer stay ahead of it.
    — Suresh Rajapakse, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • And while vegetable dishes can easily be overlooked on a menu like this, order one or two.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Ownership can be overlooked when addressing a reputation issue.
    — Scott Keever, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 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 Sep. 2026.

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