GLOSS OVER Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

gloss (over)

verb

Definition of gloss (over)

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

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)

Verb

Unable to picture evil as anything other than devilish, critics accused Arendt of excusing the perpetrators and blaming the victims.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
That is not to excuse the recklessness behind the wheel which could feasibly have led to a more serious, potentially tragic incident on the M25 and M3 motorways.

— Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of excuse

Verb

Computer science student Jack Zemke was getting nowhere despite sending out hundreds of job applications that mostly disappeared into the void — ignored.

— Heather Hollingsworth, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
On top of that, Elektrek reported racist graffiti and swastikas regularly appeared in high-traffic areas, which Tesla management simply ignored.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of ignore

Verb

The questions to answer The FDA laid out key questions for the committee to answer about Galleri, centered on whether the clinical data show the test detects cancers reliably and early enough to justify use of such terms in its marketing.

— Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026
Meloni’s government argues that rising electricity demand, climate targets and energy security concerns exposed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine justify bringing nuclear energy back into the country’s power mix.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of justify

Verb

Deputy County Counsel Keith Floyd told the board there must be a reasonable cause, beyond taxpayer’s control, to forgive the penalty.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026
The plea agreement the prosecution offered no doubt has something to do with the fact Nantambu’s attorney said this month that his client had forgiven Brown and no longer wanted to participate in the prosecution.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of forgive

Verb

One month before the Pentagon announced its first equity stake in a company, its top lawyer asked the White House to explain why the deal wouldn’t break the law.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Kane also introduced some new styles, like the asymmetrical axe bag in white leather, and the chop, a smaller, curved shoulder bag style, both centered on the idea of cutting away at a Mulberry tree to promote new growth, Kane explained backstage.

— Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of explain

Verb

That contradiction is harder to overlook in Lee’s latest tale of immigrant striving, American Hagwon.

— Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Ashford Castle, overlooking Lough (lake) Corrib in the Irish county of Mayo, has been around since the year 1228, but don’t go expecting an old-fashioned experience.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 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

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Gloss (over).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gloss%20%28over%29. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of gloss (over)

verb

Example Sentences

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