" gloss (over) "

1: to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses;

  * e.g., " ... I don't want to gloss over her misbehavior, but keep in mind that she's been under a lot of stress lately "

•  Synonyms : 

•  deodorize,

•  excuse,

•  explain away,

•  extenuate,

•  gloze (over),

•  palliate,

•  whitewash

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

2: to dismiss as of little importance;

  * e.g., " ... this biographer tends to gloss over his subject's many character flaws "

•  Synonyms : 

•  blink (at),

•  brush (aside or off),

•  condone,

•  discount,

•  disregard,

•  excuse,

•  forgive,

•  gloze (over),

•  ignore,

•  overlook,

•  overpass,

•  paper over,

•  pardon,

•  pass over,

•  remit,

•  shrug off,

•  whitewash,

•  wink (at)

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)