elephant in the room

noun phrase

: an obvious major problem or issue that people avoid discussing or acknowledging

Examples of elephant in the room in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Address the elephant in the room Problems happen in every project. Jodie Cook, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images Then there’s the elephant in the room — Tesla, whose sales and stock price have plunged lately following a post-election surge. Bob Woods, CNBC, 16 Mar. 2025 His absence has been the elephant in the room over recent weeks, too. Beren Cross, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025 And then there is the elephant in the room: consumer risk. Gene A. Grant Ii, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elephant in the room

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elephant in the room was in 1985

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Cite this Entry

“Elephant in the room.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant%20in%20the%20room. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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