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

Isaac Gonzalez, a traffic safety advocate and founder of Slow Down Sacramento, said roads like Valley Hi Drive were built wide and open, which can lead to drivers ignoring speed limits.

— Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Republicans stripped away key delaying tactics in recent years by ending the filibuster in 2017 and ignoring the Judiciary Committee’s quorum rules in 2020.

— The Conversation, The Conversation, 14 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

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

Just such an October weather pattern occurred 61 years ago, obscuring predawn views of the spectacular Comet Ikeya-Seki for most observers east of the Mississippi — an ironic fate for the most brilliant comet of the 20th century.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Today’s problem is hyperscalers spending themselves into oblivion, spreading inflation well beyond Silicon Valley and obscuring problems nearly everywhere else.

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

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Synonyms of papering over

verb

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