as in to excuse
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.
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Recent Examples of sugarcoat
Then, sugarcoating was the reflexive response.
—
Susan Page, USA Today, 29 May 2026
There’s no way to sugarcoat it.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 25 May 2026
Morgan didn’t sugarcoat the harder parts either.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 May 2026
One in four jobs at risk The bank isn’t sugarcoating AI’s reach.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sugarcoat
Susan Page, USA Today, 29 May 2026
There’s no way to sugarcoat it.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 25 May 2026
Morgan didn’t sugarcoat the harder parts either.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 May 2026
One in four jobs at risk The bank isn’t sugarcoating AI’s reach.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sugarcoat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sugarcoat
Verb
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Any new-to-the-stage songwriter may need time to acclimate to a new mode, and this particular case may be explained by the fact that Mann, according to reporting, is no longer actively involved in the show’s development.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
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This adaptation explains why the hourlong train ride to work can start out as exhausting, but become part of your daily routine.—
Christian B. Miller,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Verb
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New graduates who demonstrate sharp AI abilities will find themselves in more senior positions quicker than usual as employers look to justify their investments.—
Conor Sen,
Boston Herald,
8 June 2026
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For others, the subtle haptics, battery limitations and app-dependent controls may make the price hard to justify.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Travolta never asks the audience to excuse Tony’s uglier qualities.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
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Casey Schmitt can be excused for failing to catch Ketel Marte’s fifth-inning fly ball during the Giants’ 6-2 loss Monday.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
Verb
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However, the other signs of whitewashing — multiple, vague but positive reviews — were not present.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
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The attempts by the current administration to whitewash or erase certain aspects of American history, especially the horrors of slavery, are powerfully countered by the novel’s investigation of America’s origins and its polyphonic voices.—
Time,
Time,
12 May 2026
Verb
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But since neo-Brandeisian thought rejects economics as a pseudo-science that rationalizes the desires of capital owners, that objection carries little weight.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
26 May 2026
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Given the extent to which this entire offense is slumping, the manager could have rationalized benching any one of several hitters.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Certainly, there are swing issues that can’t be explained away by a good week at Triple-A.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
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These agents can do in seconds what used to take an analyst weeks — and the institutions that put one in their enrollment team’s hands this June will shape a class the rest will spend September trying to explain away.—
Vinay Bhaskara,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sugarcoat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sugarcoat. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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