sugarcoat

[shoog-er-koht]

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with sugar.

   to sugarcoat a pill.

2. to make (something difficult or distasteful) appear more pleasant or acceptable.

   There was no way to sugarcoat the bad news.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sugarcoat¹

First recorded in 1865–70; sugar + coat

Example Sentences

“It’s just straight-up disappointing, and there’s no other way to sugarcoat it.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Sanderson, however, did not sugarcoat what is at stake for Chelsea, nor the pressure on the shoulders of a team backed by huge investment - but without a European title.

Read more on BBC

It’s no good trying to sugarcoat the troubled history of the United Nations.

Read more on Salon

Hamas and its supporters have undeniably genocidal intentions toward Israeli Jews, however those may occasionally be finessed; it doesn’t help the Palestinian cause to evade or sugarcoat that fact.

Read more on Salon

“I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I’m not going to say we survive this,” said Barbara Ferrer, head of the public health department, in an interview.

Read more on Los Angeles Times