1
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
2
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
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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 -
Former New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee asked ChatGPT for help explaining away his girlfriend’s fatal injuries a day before she was found dead in their Tennessee home, prosecutors said Monday.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Unfortunately, sometimes the brain is too efficient, leading us to cling to false information and unproductive habits while ignoring information that could clearly benefit us.—
Dr. Deepika Chopra,
Flow Space,
16 June 2026
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Meanwhile, poor Sol is blithely ignoring Jen’s warning that Sincere seemed to switch up on Melanie awfully quick and that Sincere and Melanie are very in sync.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The problem with ‘unforgiveness’ Forgiveness is not about excusing harm or forgetting it.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
-
The jury was seated after three days of the selection process, with Collin County Judge John Roach excusing 150 people after meeting with attorneys Wednesday afternoon.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The backstory Built on a bluff overlooking Treasure Island Beach, the hotel opened in 2003 as the flagship property of Montage Hotels & Resorts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
-
The opportunity to exchange their handwritten vows to one another at the Sveti Sava in Montenegro — a scenic outdoor venue overlooking the Adriatic Sea — was in part by chance, as Allen was already booked to perform on the cruise ship Oceania Allura in Italy at the very same time.—
Tricia Despres,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The exhibit highlights examples of bird-friendly architecture in cities such as Chicago and Santa Cruz while explaining the design principles behind collision prevention.—
Christiana Freitag,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
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Alsace spent centuries moving between French and German rule — explaining why this indisputably French cake so closely resembles similar treats from across the Germanic world.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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This little houseplant is easy for beginners, safe around pets, purifies the air, and is forgiving of neglect.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Dec. 2025
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The upper is almost seamless and impressively thin, while the midsole foam stays soft and forgiving through long training runs.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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If anything, the Red Raiders are only abiding by Judge Ken Curry's orders, which should be the main talking point, not these other ways of justifying their stance.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
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But Adraee has been accused of justifying the killing of some journalists.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Eilmer managed to glide a good 600 feet, passing over the city wall before crash-landing in a small valley near the river Avon.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
14 June 2026
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The United Boeing 767-400 coming from Venice, Italy, struck the pole while passing over a major roadway at a very low elevation on its final approach, the carrier confirmed in a statement shared with PEOPLE at the time.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
7 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Glossing (over).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glossing%20%28over%29. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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