sugarcoat

American  

[shoog-er-koht] / ˈʃʊg ərˌkoʊt /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of sugarcoat

First recorded in 1865–70; sugar + coat

Example Sentences

"He's not well. I'm not going to sugarcoat this and say that he's doing really well, he's still really unwell," she told her followers.

From BBC

Despite their clear affection for these women, the Dardenne brothers never sugarcoat their characters’ unenviable circumstance or latch onto phony bromides to alleviate our anxiety.

From Los Angeles Times

There was no sugarcoating how disappointed Brentwood players and coaches felt last week in suffering a 16-point drubbing by Crossroads in their Gold Coast League opener.

From Los Angeles Times

Davis, to her credit, doesn’t sugarcoat just how difficult it can be, especially for those new to its often inchoate norms.

From Los Angeles Times

“No way to sugarcoat it: The S&P 500 is expensive,” BofA Securities wrote in a Dec. 31 research note.

From Barron's