Synonyms of papering over

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

• ignoring
• forgiving
• overlooking
• passing over
• brushing (aside or off)
• winking (at)
• blinking (at)
• explaining
• glossing (over)
• shrugging off
• justifying
• pardoning
• forgiving and forgetting
• excusing
• disregarding
• glozing (over)
• discounting
• closing one's eyes to
• condoning
• remitting
• whitewashing
• waving (aside or off)
• overpassing
• rationalizing
• exonerating
• exculpating
• vindicating
• waiving
• acquitting
• absolving
• clearing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• objecting (to)
• marking
• noting
• heeding
• minding

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

• hiding
• concealing
• obscuring
• covering
• blotting out
• suppressing
• masking
• covering (up)
• disguising
• cloaking
• screening
• occulting
• veiling
• curtaining
• enshrouding
• blanketing
• shrouding
• overshadowing
• blocking
• glossing (over)
• belying
• burying
• camouflaging
• smothering
• shading
• varnishing
• darkening
• obstructing
• eclipsing
• whitewashing
• gilding
• occluding
• clouding
• overcasting
• befogging
• beclouding
• bedimming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• showing
• bringing out
• displaying
• revealing
• disclosing
• exposing
• uncovering
• baring
• presenting
• divulging
• getting out
• unveiling
• unmasking
• clarifying
• uncloaking
• illuminating
• publishing
• advertising
• proclaiming
• spreading
• broadcasting
• airing
• publicizing

Example Sentences

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