PAPERING OVER Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

papering over

verb

present participle of paper over

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

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

Verb

Focusing on just the GPUs themselves—ignoring solar panels, cooling systems, and the rest of the server and networking devices—can at least provide a starting point.

— Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
Among various allegations, the suits claim the federal permitting process was accelerated, ignoring critical risks like low-river saltwater intrusion and localized air, noise and traffic pollution.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of ignoring

Verb

Rather than hiding from the toughest challenges, Hill confronted them head-on despite knowingly taking on some short-term pain and cost.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
With that $140, York bought himself a lifetime of punchlines at his expense and, presumably, years of hiding from the spotlight.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

Laken Snelling had initially pleaded not guilty after a grand jury indicted her on several charges, including first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.

— Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2026
The proud mom shared pictures of her and Green cuddling their little one in the hospital room, concealing the newborn’s face in the snaps.

— Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of concealing

Verb

For lunch, there are two options – Sails Bar on the beach or Cayenne, the grill restaurant overlooking the sea.

— Ann Lee, TheWeek, 24 Aug. 2026
Restaurant Pjerin, recognised by the Michelin Guide, is fine‑dining bliss with breakfast, lunch, and dinner served on a sleek glass terrace overlooking the Old Town.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of overlooking

Verb

For astronomers, these satellites would become a nightmare for observations, crowding out and obscuring fainter objects or even challenging the Milky Way’s prominence with their glare.

— Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
But blaming the technology risks obscuring the fact that humans write the code, select the data on which AI systems are trained, approve their use, and decide where and how they are deployed.

— Shaun Harper, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of obscuring

Verb

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
The August 12 eclipse swept across the Northern Hemisphere, traveling from Russia to Spain and passing over parts of Greenland, Iceland and Portugal.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of passing over

Verb

His comments ranged widely, covering the latest battlefield developments, efforts to counter Russian ballistic attacks, the state of peace negotiations, Ukraine’s budgetary challenges and the political turmoil surrounding Fedorov’s dismissal.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Within those 22 appearances, the Cubs are 9-1 in his starts, and the Mexican right-hander has also notched two saves, covering all sorts of situations in his hybrid role.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of covering

Browse Nearby Words

papered over

papering over

paper money

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Cite this Entry

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“Papering over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/papering%20over. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of papering over

verb

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