paper over

verb

papered over; papering over; papers over

transitive verb

1

: to gloss over, explain away, or patch up (differences, disparities, etc.) especially in order to maintain a semblance of unity or agreement

2

: hide, conceal

Synonyms

• blink (at)
• brush (aside or off)
• condone
• discount
• disregard
• excuse
• forgive
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)
• ignore
• overlook
• overpass
• pardon
• pass over
• remit
• shrug off
• whitewash
• wink (at)

Examples of paper over in a Sentence

the differences between the two factions are too great to be papered over in the name of party unity

the company tried to paper over its red ink, issuing assurances that it was still financially sound

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the many gimmicks that California’s governors and legislators employ to paper over budget deficits, thus avoiding real spending cuts or increasing taxes, is to assume some level of savings from making state agencies and programs more efficient. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2025

Its powers must stop papering over regional and local divisions and instead do the hard work of addressing them. —Maha Yahya, Foreign Affairs, 17 Feb. 2025

The exuberance had a way of papering over the challenges to come. —Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025

Although some officials in Europe have attempted to paper over the cracks widening across the Atlantic, others concede that Europe is in trouble, adrift in this new security reality. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for paper over

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• leftover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover