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

From 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.

From 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.

From Los Angeles Times

“It will certainly be a big winner on Disney+. But there’s no sugarcoating the fact that this was an incredibly low opening weekend for a Pixar movie.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m not going to call it an untruth. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I’m going to call it for what it is, which is a lie.”

From Los Angeles Times