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
And Head coach Jordi Fernández didn’t sugarcoat it, either.
—
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
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.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Marie, who always considered herself an athletic person growing up, does not sugarcoat the physical demands of her profession.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
In these allegories of dehumanization, greed, and hope, Marshall takes an unvarnished view of his subjects, one that doesn’t sugarcoat the past or succumb to nostalgia for a mythical, precolonial Golden Age.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sugarcoat
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
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.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Marie, who always considered herself an athletic person growing up, does not sugarcoat the physical demands of her profession.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
In these allegories of dehumanization, greed, and hope, Marshall takes an unvarnished view of his subjects, one that doesn’t sugarcoat the past or succumb to nostalgia for a mythical, precolonial Golden Age.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sugarcoat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sugarcoat
Verb
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The measure passed with 11 alderpersons in favor, two opposed and three excused.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
27 Feb. 2026
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When a flight attendant noticed, Dali faked vomiting to excuse her lengthy time in the bathroom, according to prosecutors.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Jean doesn’t try to explain away the contradiction.—
Emma Madden,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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Now, could it be maybe explained away?—
Lauren A. White,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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If there were a Mensa society for rationalizing one’s own shitty behavior, Pippa would be its president.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2026
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Lisa Simon, chief economist at Revelio Labs, which collects and analyzes public labor market data, also suspects that some companies are pointing to their use of AI to rationalize layoffs.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Instead, Hegseth pointed to threats from other weaponry such as ballistic missiles and drones that justified the operation.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
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That said, mortgage interest rates may already be low enough to justify taking action now.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Others can better explain his remarkable journey to make America better for the disenfranchised, and his zeal to help create a true rainbow of inclusion.—
Rick Davis,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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Brownell explains that the decision to have Lady Danbury separate herself from the Queen wasn’t to grant Andoh an exit, but instead to push the friendship dynamic between the characters to grow and evolve.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Carmen López, Flores and other relatives say the local government is trying to whitewash the issue of the missing ahead of the global sporting event.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
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In hushed towns like Locorotondo and Martina Franca, whitewashed lanes curve unexpectedly, church bells peal away the hours, and olive trees cast ever longer shadows onto dusty squares.—
Rob Crossan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sugarcoat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sugarcoat. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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