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Synonyms

smooth over

British  

verb

  1. (tr) to ease or gloss over

    to smooth over a situation
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
smooth over Idioms  

  1. Rid of obstructions or difficulties, as in We tried to smooth things over between the families before the wedding but did not succeed. [Late 1600s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It remains to be seen whether Muse Spark’s launch will smooth over previous controversies.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

He has sought to smooth over tensions with conservative Catholics that flared under Francis’ reign, threatening the unity of the church.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted the London summit as allies scramble to shape peace negotiations and smooth over fractured relations between Trump and Zelensky.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2025

Chef Lachlan explains that we put oil in a pan to create a viscous layer and to smooth over the micro serrations and micro scratches in the pan.

From Salon • May 23, 2024

But the young man’s enormous ego often caused problems that Houseman had to smooth over.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.