sugarcoat

verb

Definition of sugarcoatnext
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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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 sugarcoat 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 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 See All Example Sentences for sugarcoat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sugarcoat
  1. explain
  2. justify
  3. excuse
  4. whitewash
  5. rationalize
  6. explain away
Verb
  • Neither the governor's office nor Wilson's office has explained why those two sections were left out between the May draft and the final trailer bill.
    — Julie Watts, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Here, The Athletic explains the latest situation in terms of both outgoings and incomings at St James’ Park.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • Longer commutes, hills, uneven neighborhood streets, and weekend detours all make a stronger all-around bike easier to justify.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Throughout the film, the corporation constantly looks for ways to justify not making changes.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • Proprietary or uninterpretable systems do not excuse the obligation.
    — TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Any person who celebrates, encourages, or excuses actions like these is fundamentally wrong.
    — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • Japan’s Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum has been accused of whitewashing the country’s wartime past.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 29 July 2026
  • Critics have warned that the new panels replacing the ones exhibited since 2010 whitewash the history of slavery.
    — Corey Williams, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of whitewash
Verb
  • The offense was bad Saturday, and there’s no spin or rationalizing the performance.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Jones’s ever more abusive and erratic behavior was ignored or rationalized by people who should have looked harder.
    — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of rationalize
Verb
  • But Noelle wasn’t in daycare and had spent much of the COVID-19 pandemic at home, making the frequency of her illnesses harder for Kiya to explain away.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Still, there's a difference between de-escalating and going out of your way to explain away the actions of the player who just blasted one of your own.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of explain away

Browse Nearby Words

suffusing
sugarcoat
sugarcoated
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Cite this Entry

“Sugarcoat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sugarcoat. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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