GLOSSING (OVER) Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

glossing (over)

verb

present participle of gloss (over)

as in explaining away

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 ignoring

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 glossing (over)

Verb

There was no explaining away a mistake like that.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Offscreen, some fans accuse Wyle of explaining away or downplaying his fictional character’s cruelty, and of a constellation of other sins, including envy of his fellow actors’ credentials.

— Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026

Definition of explaining away

Verb

This leaves plenty of room for optimistic interpretation of just how much sleep many get, while ignoring factors such as sleep fragmentation or durations of sleep stages.

— Mike McRae September 17, New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026
The stock is bucking its own sector and ignoring the broader market noise, and that kind of independence is worth paying attention to.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of ignoring

Verb

Not that Miss Manners is excusing those who burst into dinner parties after the roast has been ruined — along with the other guests’ attitudes, most likely — and then blame it on traffic.

— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
Part of that is the team’s fault, as Boone and Cashman have spent much of his career staunchly defending and excusing the former first-round pick’s poor play.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026

Definition of excusing

Verb

The store, with its eye-catching cat sculpture overlooking the entrance, is hard to miss on a bustling stretch of Magnolia Avenue in Burbank.

— Yvonne Villaseñor, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
As with the entry foyer, multiple large windows effectively create a wall of glass overlooking the view, while sliding glass doors provide easy access to a rear deck that spans the rear of the home.

— James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of overlooking

Verb

The Big Ten early Sunday morning released a statement and video footage explaining the call.

— Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Restaurant owner Sachiyo Nakato Takahara places noodles, cabbage, onion and tofu into the sizzling, fragrant pot while explaining the significance of the meal, an intimate one typically enjoyed by close friends or family.

— Nila Roper, AJC.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of explaining

Verb

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
The relentless pace of Line Sheet is forgiving for its author.

— Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of forgiving

Verb

Transparency without context can breed distrust, because disclosing a number is not the same as justifying it, and both expectations and the law have moved on.

— Aniela Unguresan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
That is why parents, and moms in particular, who historically have taken on most of the child care work and labor in the home—have trouble justifying rest.

— Parents, Parents, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of justifying

Verb

Related Articles The board previously resolved to erect new buildings for the Latino Museum and the American Women’s History Museum, passing over Arts and Industries.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The August 12 eclipse swept across the Northern Hemisphere, traveling from Russia to Spain and passing over parts of Greenland, Iceland and Portugal.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of passing over

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.

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glossing

glossing (over)

gloss (over)

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“Glossing (over).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glossing%20%28over%29. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of glossing (over)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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