1
as in to ignore
to dismiss as of little importance
the differences between the two factions are too great to be papered over in the name of party unity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to conceal
to keep secret or shut off from view
the company tried to paper over its red ink, issuing assurances that it was still financially sound
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paper over
First, leaders face a temptation to paper over differences and exaggerate the convergence of interests, especially when helping to defend a close partner against brutal aggression.
—
Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
Shaq started to answer and then crinkled a piece of paper over the microphone to muffle his response.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
The recent San Diego fee increases, which aside from Measure C were not directly approved by voters, will help but won’t solve the city’s structural budget deficit that has been papered over for years.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
While political violence decreased, his heavy-handed rule papered over France’s wounds without healing them.
—Time, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paper over
Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
Shaq started to answer and then crinkled a piece of paper over the microphone to muffle his response.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
The recent San Diego fee increases, which aside from Measure C were not directly approved by voters, will help but won’t solve the city’s structural budget deficit that has been papered over for years.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
While political violence decreased, his heavy-handed rule papered over France’s wounds without healing them.
—Time, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paper over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paper over
Verb
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Authorities said Sutton ignored multiple commands to comply and resisted detention.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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The background checks on Cook, if in fact there were any, were totally ignored.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The actress became pregnant with their first child while filming season 3 of The Rookie, and instead of strategically concealing her pregnancy to play Angela, creator Alexi Hawley simply wrote it into Diaz's character's storyline.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Her go-to is the Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit, a $35 at-home hair color box that conceals 100 percent of stubborn grays and enhances shine.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Still, some of these foibles are easier to forgive when seen in service of the greater good.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
5 Jan. 2026
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Reading the media these days, you would be forgiven for thinking the technology, journalism, and investment communities were inadvertently wishing an AI ‘bubble’ into existence.—
Oscar Täckström,
Fortune,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Minimalists will opt for a charging station with organized cords or a drawer or basket to hide cords in lieu of a jumble of cords and devices, Donaldson shares.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
13 Jan. 2026
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That can include driving someone away from agents, hiding them, or providing false documents.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Under pressure to fill vacancies quickly, agencies often rush background checks, shorten psychological screenings, and overlook red flags that would normally disqualify candidates.—
Karl W. Bickel,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Jan. 2026
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With multilingual capabilities in over 50 languages, the robots eliminate language barriers that can slow service and leave guests feeling overlooked.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This International Dark Sky Park, located in southwest Texas, is about a six-hour drive from San Antonio, the nearest city, so there won't be much light pollution obscuring your views of the constellations.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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Medical issues and money woes can create a fog of anxiety that obscures the path forward.—
Eric Thomas,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mel explained that Chris was impressed by the move, and the two went for a run and had dinner together the next day.—
Ariana Quihuiz,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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In an interview with Entertainment Weekly's sister publication, PEOPLE, makeup artist Nick Barose explained his inspiration for creating Madigan's glam for the evening.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On April 16, a week after that panicked text message from Banfield, Wynn floated another proposal to the bank, this time asking if the school could get a line of credit to cover expenses through the summer.—
Jennifer Palmer,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Jan. 2026
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The lush gardens are spread across about a dozen acres and feature a mix of styles, including a traditional Valencian space with Moorish influences, sprawling greenhouses, and pergolas covered in swaths of roses.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paper over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paper%20over. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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