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

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
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.
No one teaches them how to run the weatherproofing paper over the metal flashing to prevent water from seeping into a gable’s frame. Marcela Valdes, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025 Merely papering over privacy commitments does not translate into actual protection. Abigail Dubiniecki, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Duke’s stream of long, tall, NBA-ready standouts smothered Alabama and papered over Cooper Flagg’s rough shooting night to lift the Blue Devils to the program’s 18th Final Four with an 85-65 victory Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament’s East Region final. Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025 From this perspective, the familiar elements of the Nativity—the stable, the shepherds, the Magi—were not meant to paper over the embarrassment at Jesus’ illegitimacy. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for paper over

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of paper over was in 1910

Cite this Entry

“Paper over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper%20over. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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