papered over

Definition of papered overnext
past tense of paper over

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of papered over Even so, personality disputes can be papered over if countries share mutual goals and interests. Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026 But not all differences can be papered over. Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026 Recent league wins over Brighton, Tottenham and Wolves papered over the cracks in patchy performances as the champions climbed back into the top four. James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026 Underneath, its windows are artfully papered over with construction paper clouds. Kansas City Star, 22 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 How many old game-management cracks were papered over a year ago by Shedeur, the best passer in school history, and Travis Hunter, the Buffs’ best-ever athlete? Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025 For all the talk of bold reforms since 2012, Xi has time and time again papered over China’s cracks with government stimulus. William Pesek, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for papered over
Verb
  • So, the fact that the Illinois fireworks ban is roundly ignored by Illinoisans is not a surprise to anyone, as the night skies prove on Independence Day.
    Brad Weisenstein, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Ackerly says the lesson is simple but often ignored.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Economic growth fueled by foreign borrowing created an illusion of stability that concealed deepening structural decay.
    Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Women who brought the lawsuits said the university ignored their complaints and deliberately concealed abuse that happened for decades during examinations at the UCLA student health center, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center or in Heaps’ campus office.
    Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Investing in domestic mining is necessary but insufficient—recycling infrastructure offers a faster, less geopolitically fraught path to supply chain resilience that has historically been overlooked by previous administrations.
    Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • So perhaps that’s why Wagler was overlooked.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • With the new headquarters, Chan explained, Bonhams hope to widen their base of collectors through their larger exhibition space and programming around how to start or improve a collection across art, jewelry, antiquities, wine and other collectibles.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Bryan Hoyos, the mill’s director of North American marketing, explained how HV100 utilizes variocut technology to create varying staples lengths of Tencel fiber.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The team behind this research used the JWST's Near InfraRed Spectrograph (NIRSpec) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) instruments to investigate IRAS 07251–0248, an ultra-luminous infrared galaxy whose dense galactic heart is obscured by immense amounts of dust and gas.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The threats to our waters are insidiously obscured from sight.
    Theodore J. Karamanski, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Fortune 500 is littered with examples of wanna-be CEOs who left their companies after being passed over for the top job.
    Claire Zillman, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, one of the best assistant coaches in the league, was once again passed over for a coaching job.
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Quarterback Eli Manning also was a high-profile top-15 finalist who lost in the voting, which is conducted by a panel of 50 voters — most of them media members who have covered the NFL for many years.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
  • And looking at this area that was covered in ugly graffiti is such a welcome change.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Judge Mitchell rejected that argument, ruling Duran was not justified in using deadly force.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
  • One size doesn’t fit all – There are times when a different governance structure may be justified.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Papered over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/papered%20over. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!