sugarcoat

verb

sug·​ar·​coat ˈshu̇-gər-ˌkōt 

sugarcoated; sugarcoating; sugarcoats

transitive verb

1

: to coat with sugar

2

: to make superficially attractive or palatable

Examples of sugarcoat in a Sentence

She has very strong opinions, and she doesn't try to sugarcoat them.

Recent Examples on the Web

And there is only so much Mr. Rubio can do to sugarcoat Mr. Trump’s agenda, which is driven by a view that Europe economically exploits the United States, is culturally out of sync with the values of Mr. Trump’s political movement and must do business with Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin. —Michael Crowley, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025

On the one hand, neither Molly’s oncologist (drolly and sweetly played by Succession alum David Rasche) nor the show itself attempts to sugarcoat the nature of this kind of cancer. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025

On Saturday, Cashman didn’t try to sugarcoat the Yankees’ situation, which has Fangraphs now projecting the team (86-76) to just edge the Boston Red Sox (85-77) atop the division. —Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

Dalman likes that his new coach isn’t sugarcoating anything. —Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from sugarcoated

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sugarcoat

• anecdote
• antidote
• asymptote
• creosote
• dimethoate
• epidote
• ferryboat
• motorboat
• overcoat
• petticoat
• riverboat
• undercoat

Kids Definition

sugarcoat

verb

sug·​ar·​coat ˌshu̇g-ər-ˈkōt 

: to coat with or as if with sugar