smooth over
phrasal verb
smoothed over; smoothing over; smooths over also smoothes over
: to make (a disagreement, problem, difficulty, etc.) seem less serious than it really is
Don't worry about missing the application deadline—we'll smooth that over with the office.
She smoothed over the objections to his candidacy.
Examples of smooth over in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pair them with a glass of Taylors LBV Port 2019 and smooth over your evening with a creamy Baileys coffee.
—
Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
There had been questions about Cheeks’ relationship with Ellison’s incoming No. 2 Jeff Shell, though sources have indicated the two are currently on good terms after smoothing over any past fractures.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024
And don’t neglect to follow up appropriately after the conversion; your response can reinforce positive outcomes or help smooth over tensions.
—Rebecca Knight, Harvard Business Review, 27 Nov. 2024
Jackson’s career was defined by mass appeal designed to cross borders and demographics while often smoothing over racial and social nuances in favor of universal humanitarian activism.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smooth over 
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Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
There had been questions about Cheeks’ relationship with Ellison’s incoming No. 2 Jeff Shell, though sources have indicated the two are currently on good terms after smoothing over any past fractures.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024
And don’t neglect to follow up appropriately after the conversion; your response can reinforce positive outcomes or help smooth over tensions.
—Rebecca Knight, Harvard Business Review, 27 Nov. 2024
Jackson’s career was defined by mass appeal designed to cross borders and demographics while often smoothing over racial and social nuances in favor of universal humanitarian activism.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smooth over
Dictionary Entries Near smooth over
Cite this Entry
“Smooth over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smooth%20over. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.
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