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

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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
  • Cameron Berg, who founded the nonprofit Reciprocal Research to study the potential for AI consciousness, argues that ignoring the question could carry its own dangers.
    — Eliza Strickland, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Oct. 2026
  • With nearly 70% of listeners now consuming video podcasts, treating an interview as just a microphone chat means ignoring how your audience actually consumes content.
    — Victoria Usher, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignoring
Verb
  • The Manhunters rebelled against the Guardians, and most were killed; the sole survivor is hiding out in Rushville disguised as a human.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But this is in fact the opportunity hiding inside the greatest technological acceleration of our lifetimes.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • The remarkably, borderline unbelievably forgiving Adams became good friends with her ex-husband.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
  • But after Gouken’s tragic murder — the particulars will eventually be revealed in flashbacks — Ken and Ryu went their separate ways, Ken never forgiving Ryu for failing to save Gouken’s life.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of forgiving
Verb
  • In addition to the manslaughter charge, Snelling pleaded guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Construction crews stripped the president's name from the exterior in June, but the front portico of the building has since been covered by a tarp, concealing most of its name.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of concealing
Verb
  • Around 40% of the building will be accessible without a ticket, with an amphitheater-like atrium designed for talks and performances, a bookshop, a children's art space, and Extra Large, a café with a panoramic terrace overlooking the Seine.
    — Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Locals on social media and at the press conference also criticized the governor for overlooking the damage in Milton, which has a population of fewer than 12,000 people.
    — CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of overlooking
Verb
  • In the early ‘80s, the singer was already obscuring his Blackness with makeup (prior to remaking his features with plastic surgery).
    — Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Digital secondary channels have become the main outlet for liquidating illicit inventories, often obscuring sellers’ origins while reaching millions of buyers worldwide.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of obscuring
Verb
  • The probability of a hurricane passing over any particular point is low, especially farther from the Mexican coast, since most Pacific hurricanes tend to stay closer to Mexico.
    — Nicholas Grondin, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Related Articles The board previously resolved to erect new buildings for the Latino Museum and the American Women’s History Museum, passing over Arts and Industries.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of passing over
Verb
  • This emerged when another routine health intervention in June had a target list with 4 million more children than the measles campaign despite covering the same age group.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Performers weren’t spared either, with several forced to perform in the rain without covering for both artists and their equipment.
    — Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 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 25 Oct. 2026.

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