1
as in ignored
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 concealed
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 papered over
Her transgression is one of the worst things imaginable; in a way, what Emma is hiding stems from a societal ill that gets papered over every day.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
The structural failures that are the true roots of the region's turmoil—not Tehran—will go unaddressed, papered over by the noise and urgency of the conflict.
—Frederic Wehrey, Time, 24 Mar. 2026
Buried inside this success story is a growing fiscal problem that policymakers have quietly papered over for more than a decade.
—Louis Sigaud, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
The top line’s results do come with an asterisk, though — their goal differential is boosted by Ilya Sorokin’s superb play, which has papered over some of the line’s mediocre play-driving numbers.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
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
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
David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
The structural failures that are the true roots of the region's turmoil—not Tehran—will go unaddressed, papered over by the noise and urgency of the conflict.
—Frederic Wehrey, Time, 24 Mar. 2026
Buried inside this success story is a growing fiscal problem that policymakers have quietly papered over for more than a decade.
—Louis Sigaud, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
The top line’s results do come with an asterisk, though — their goal differential is boosted by Ilya Sorokin’s superb play, which has papered over some of the line’s mediocre play-driving numbers.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for papered over
Verb
-
At first, Orbán ignored Magyar.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Trump has been angry that NATO member countries ignored his call to help reopen the vital waterway as gas prices soared during the war.—
Aamer Madhani,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There’s fountains, small areas to climb, and concealed nooks and crannies.—
Jenny Hughes,
The Spruce,
9 Apr. 2026
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Investigators allege Gonzalez wrote checks to herself from HOA accounts over an extended period and concealed the thefts by creating fictitious invoices and false ledger entries.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What tends to be overlooked, in the aesthetic shock, is Proust’s elaborate hymn to its moral and spiritual implications.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Latinos are a fundamental part of American history and culture, and one of the largest communities in the United States, yet their presence in Hollywood has long been limited, stereotyped, or overlooked.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As co-founder of Jason Hyde Jewelry, Deborah Singer explained, people are often surprised to learn that each piece begins as plastic pulled from the ocean, transformed through upcycling.—
Najahe Sherman,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The client, Mukherjee explained, was in the midst of a life-threatening medical crisis.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Executives are blind to how employees really feel What the early enthusiasm obscured is now visible in the numbers.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The two could have easily been forgotten, obscured by the passage of time as so many returning groups are.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Famously passed over by American Idol producers, Amber Riley shows off her stellar pipes in the role of resident high school diva Mercedes Jones, always competing with Rachel Berry for the top spot in the glee club.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
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Just last year, an Indian movie that critics globally tipped as an Oscar winner was passed over by the same selection committee.—
Diaa Hadid,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Pour in 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, pressing asparagus down with a wooden spoon until mostly covered.—
Selma Brown Morrow,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
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Where city parks would be covered in green grass this time of year, many are brown and dry.—
Gabriela Vidal,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Senior Iranian leaders have repeatedly denied Israel’s legitimacy, predicted its destruction and framed that outcome as inevitable and justified.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
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Customs and Border Protection rules say that pepper balls and other projectiles should not be aimed at vulnerable areas such as the head or spine unless deadly force is justified.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Papered over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/papered%20over. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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