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
  • The appeal asked that the court either excuse the juror who was allegedly refusing to follow instructions or inquire further to determine whether the juror could in fact follow the judge's instructions to correctly apply the law.
    — Carmel Wroth, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The jury requested to be excused for the day hours after telling Judge William Sullivan that it was deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous decision.
    — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has denied accusations that the government ignored warnings about an impending mass border crossing from Morocco to the enclave of Ceuta.
    — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The numbers are impossible to ignore, while Boteli’s bustling physical profile — two-footed, quick, and comfortable through the middle or out wide — means that a move to Europe’s top five leagues will soon be on the cards.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of ignore
Verb
  • On price hikes, analysts think that Apple needs to increase prices by as much as $100 in order to preserve profit margins and that the company's brand can justify this change in the eyes of customers.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The latest proposal cites legal decisions and policies to justify the various changes.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • More gummies than grizzlies, the Bears will likely be overly forgiving in myriad areas — especially defending the pass.
    — Brad Evans, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Vertiv shares are up a Micron-like 1043% over the past five years, so investors might be forgiven for profit taking.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of forgive
Verb
  • Which may explain the conversion of 80 Horatio, a pre-law five-story brick tenement building in a prime pocket of the neighborhood, into a single-family house.
    — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Hurts, later explaining his reaction, said that earlier in the practice period, Moore had stopped in the middle of the route, which resulted in an interception.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • Travel gear deals While the bigger-ticket Labor Day weekend deals come in the form of flights and hotels, don't overlook retail sales.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Many of the 76 rooms and suites include private terraces overlooking Gran Via with the upper floor rooms facing the ornate gold dome of the Metropolis, one of Madrid’s most famous buildings.
    — Eddi Fiegel, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of overlook
Verb
  • 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
  • But this is largely a myth, concocted by critics and cool kids to explain away and undercut the popularity of their music.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 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 11 Sep. 2026.

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