papering over

verb

present participle of paper over
1
as in ignoring
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hiding
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

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 papering over But many residents worry that the festive mood and infrastructure works risk papering over the security crisis that still affects their daily lives. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 June 2026 The improvement between Gemini 2 and Gemini 3 may be papering over a more serious flaw. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 8 Apr. 2026 Yet the money manager remains hopeful that fiscal stimulus — more government spending coupled with consumer and business tax breaks — from last year's One Big Beautiful Bill will start to take effect in a few months, papering over any nascent economic weakness. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026 If lawmakers are serious about affordability and homeownership, this is the structural reform that actually solves the problem rather than papering over it. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026 But the results were papering over some crumbly performances. — Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for papering over
  1. ignoring
  2. hiding
  3. forgiving
  4. concealing
  5. overlooking
  6. obscuring
  7. passing over
  8. covering
Verb
  • But that didn’t stop him from taping interviews on Wednesday with various Chicago television newscasts from his downtown Chicago state office while ignoring follow-up requests from the Tribune.
    — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Adding on to this trend, 70% of employees avoid difficult conversations entirely, and 53% handle toxic situations by ignoring them.
    — Jason Walker PsyD, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of ignoring
Verb
  • Pittsboro has neither beaches nor mountains, but don’t count it out as a relaxing getaway just yet; this small town is hiding a Relais & Châteaux inn, restaurant, and spa.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Ligdis called emergency services to report his trespassing while hiding in the laundry room.
    — Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • Since the education minister's resignation, Modi has also spoken of forgiving those who had mocked the prime minister, an apparent effort to reconnect with younger audiences.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Find the less desirable line, however, and the hole remains forgiving enough to leave a straightforward approach and an excellent chance to make par.
    — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of forgiving
Verb
  • That sentence is an umbrella concealing a whole lot of other details, however.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Prosecutors alleged Burke then placed the remains in a black cadaver bag and a garbage bag before concealing them in the front trunk of his Tesla.
    — Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
Definition of concealing
Verb
  • This gracious grand dame has possibly the best possible address in all of Stockholm, overlooking Strökajen Harbor in the city’s Norrmalm district, a short walk from the Royal Palace and the Old Town.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Tourists take photos at a viewing platform overlooking coffee plantations on June 4, 2026 in Baoshan, Yunnan Province of China.
    — Matthew Tan,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of overlooking
Verb
  • On Saturday, July 25, the Deadpool star went undercover at the conference as his sword-bearing Marvel superhero, posing with fans with his character’s mask obscuring his face.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
  • But Hegseth’s push for $67 billion more in emergency Iran spending — while the Pentagon directs $75 billion from last year’s tax cuts law to other military spending — may be obscuring a war cost that is far greater.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of obscuring
Verb
  • With eclipses passing over the country three years in a row, Spain is well on its way to cementing its reputation as a premier astrotourism destination.
    — Catherine Tansey, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 July 2026
  • The center of Super Typhoon Bavi, the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, was passing over Rota, an island of 2,000 people in the Northern Mariana Islands.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of passing over
Verb
  • Peter van Duijvendijk is a flood defense manager at the Schieland en de Krimpenerwaard water corporation, one of 21 such organizations covering the Netherlands that are responsible for issues including flood control.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • That left those covered by Obamacare increasingly facing difficult choices of sucking up extra expenses — while also covering the basics of life, such as rent and food costs — or even forgoing coverage altogether.
    — Nick Thomas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of covering

Browse Nearby Words

papered over
papering over
paper money
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Cite this Entry

“Papering over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/papering%20over. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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