sugarcoating

verb

present participle of sugarcoat
as in explaining
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.

Related Words

Relevance

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 sugarcoating The script by Kevin Wade throws up hurdles of sexism and class snobbery, never sugarcoating how Tess’s male co-workers treat her like a blow-up doll. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 There is no sugarcoating the reality. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 31 May 2026 Then, sugarcoating was the reflexive response. — Susan Page, USA Today, 29 May 2026 One in four jobs at risk The bank isn’t sugarcoating AI’s reach. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 May 2026 There is no sugarcoating the depth of disagreement between public health and MAHA over some life-and-death interventions such as vaccines. — Tom W. Johnson, STAT, 26 Jan. 2026 There’s no sugarcoating it—more intricate lace nail art can be tricky to nail (pun intended) for beginners. — Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 27 Dec. 2025 There’s no use sugarcoating it—MGP has hit a bit of a rough patch over the past year. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2025 Firstly, Fabian has a knack for sugarcoating unwelcome news. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 28 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sugarcoating
  1. explaining
  2. justifying
  3. excusing
  4. whitewashing
Verb
  • Before explaining what the technology can do, understand what the customer is trying to accomplish.
    — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In the Situational Awareness fund move, Griffin sent investors a letter explaining Citadel’s stock actions with the AI company.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of explaining
Verb
  • That is why parents, and moms in particular, who historically have taken on most of the child care work and labor in the home—have trouble justifying rest.
    — Parents, Parents, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Former grand mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, an Assad loyalist who was vocally in support of the government's policies, was convicted of inciting violence and justifying murder.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of justifying
Verb
  • Not that Miss Manners is excusing those who burst into dinner parties after the roast has been ruined — along with the other guests’ attitudes, most likely — and then blame it on traffic.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
  • Part of that is the team’s fault, as Boone and Cashman have spent much of his career staunchly defending and excusing the former first-round pick’s poor play.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026
Definition of excusing
Verb
  • To freshmen from then to now, whitewashing the rock(s) before the season has tended to create a sense of belonging and ownership.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Japan’s Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum has been accused of whitewashing the country’s wartime past.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of whitewashing

Browse Nearby Words

sugarcoated
sugarcoating
sugarcoats
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sugarcoating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sugarcoating. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All