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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

Supporters say the proposal, which the supervisors are pushing to get on the November ballot, would offer a new tool to smooth over disputes and provide a “reset” after recent tumultuous contract negotiations.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 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

"Mango diplomacy" is a familiar phrase across the subcontinent, where carefully chosen crates of the fruit can grease political deals, strengthen alliances or smooth over tense negotiations.

From BBC • Aug. 15, 2025

To Piper’s surprise, the other two girls valued her skills as a go-between to smooth over any conflicts.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

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.