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.
On the other hand, an explosive finale could paper over a lot of Original Sin’s, well, sins. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025 But the club could still use another dynamic scorer and big wing defender to paper over the defensive issues of 20-time All-Star forward LeBron James, who at 40 is one of the league's best players. Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025 There were no aging legends to treasure, no tank to understand, no whirlwind Bedard rookie season to paper over the rest. Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 Texas hotel served papers over 'habitual criminal activity,' Venezuelan gang presence The Gateway Hotel in El Paso, Texas was served with a restraining order after operating illegally for six years and harboring members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 11 Sep. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near paper over

Cite this Entry

“Paper over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper%20over. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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