sugarcoat

as in to explain
to talk about or describe (something) in a way that makes it seem more pleasant or acceptable than it is textbooks that sugarcoat history She has very strong opinions, and she doesn't try to sugarcoat them.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sugarcoat DeRozan didn’t sugarcoat his words when asked which factors will be weighing on his mind. Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025 Loading your audio article Rick Pitino didn’t sugarcoat it. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2025 Ron Howard didn't sugarcoat things when daughter Bryce Dallas Howard asked for the truth about Santa Claus. Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025 Embrace Unapologetic Messaging Gone are the days of sugarcoating messages to please everyone. Steven Le Vine, Rolling Stone, 2 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sugarcoat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sugarcoat
Verb
  • But in the late 19th century, Finkelstein explained, women who'd worked as nurses during the Civil War, even though not part of the Union or Confederate armies, lobbied for and won the right to be buried at Arlington.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 May 2025
  • As a condition of invitation to the festival, breweries must have a brewer in attendance to answer questions and explain their beers.
    Don Tse, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • This tactic is sometimes used to justify letting an employee go under the guise of poor performance.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • The Alien Enemies Act was written during a phony war and is now being used to justify another phony war.
    Richard Stengel, Time, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • This creates a tension between excusing and exempting abuse.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • But for her, the speculation doesn’t excuse what came next.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sugarcoat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sugarcoat. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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