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

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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
  • Calling yourself compassionate doesn't excuse dangerous accusations What, exactly, is hateful about a mother or father wanting their daughter to have a female-only locker room?
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Prosecutors and Clancy’s defense team did not move to excuse the juror for cause during jury selection, O’Connor also said.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • Kalra’s bill would have added, in essence, an official recognition to state law that California’s water rights system ignores how land was taken from Native Americans during colonization.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Most of them appear gradually, which is exactly why they get ignored.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignore
Verb
  • Regardless, a movie of this size would need a debut near $40 million to justify its budget, per rival execs.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Both have used surging trading volumes as a metric to underscore the exchanges’ growing popularity, helping justify those valuations.
    — Davis Giangiulio,Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • You’d be forgiven for not straying greatly from the Four Seasons.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • However, get a couple of key hits on the way to a World Series title, and all will be forgiven.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of forgive
Verb
  • By comparison, strong fluid flows elongated the cells and caused DNA damage, a crucial control detail that explains why past experiments might have yielded misleading results.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Rowe explained that someone buying a pair of running shoes often sends them back after wearing it for a day to try on the fit.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • The restaurant serves a lovely breakfast on the veranda overlooking Ocean Drive as well as lunch and light bites in the piano bar in the lobby.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Kendall’s brother, Neels, officiated the ceremony on her family’s property at the top of the mountain, overlooking the Seven Devils range.
    — Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 28 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 2 Oct. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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