as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
those sugarcoated versions of family life that old TV sitcoms portrayed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in explained
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 sugarcoated
Miranda Rake, Parents, 19 Feb. 2026
For its part, Housewives has sugarcoated neither Gay’s clashes with the Mormon Church and subsequent estrangement from some friends and family members, nor the painful excommunication of her castmate and cousin Whitney Rose.
—Judy Berman, Time, 12 Nov. 2025
That independence is crucial for thorough, unbiased assessments and findings based solely on evidence, rather than sugarcoated conclusions that Congress or the president wants.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
Bluey tells compelling stories of emotional intelligence and regulation in a way that doesn’t feel sugarcoated and is hopeful rather than escapist.
—Miranda Rake, Parents, 19 Feb. 2026
For its part, Housewives has sugarcoated neither Gay’s clashes with the Mormon Church and subsequent estrangement from some friends and family members, nor the painful excommunication of her castmate and cousin Whitney Rose.
—Judy Berman, Time, 12 Nov. 2025
That independence is crucial for thorough, unbiased assessments and findings based solely on evidence, rather than sugarcoated conclusions that Congress or the president wants.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sugarcoated
Adjective
-
Multitracked saxophones swarm over a pit of molten bass frequencies, slipping between sentimental consonance—you might momentarily be reminded of Vangelis’ Blade Runner score—and eerie discord.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
25 Mar. 2026
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The church said the statues' monetary value may be relatively small, but their historical and sentimental significance is much greater.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Many joked that the clip explained years of mysterious toy discoveries beneath their own furniture.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Hollis, Queens, resident Patricia Khan first met McLogan in 2024 and explained her predicament at the time.—
Elle McLogan,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Equal parts creature feature and Florida noir, Mermaid is sticky, sunburned, and defiantly strange.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Maurer imagines blending the fungi with Martian or lunar dirt; their sticky mycelia would cement it into an extraterrestrial equivalent of particle board.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But defense attorneys argued the protests weren’t as peaceful as plaintiffs’ attorneys portrayed, that officers’ actions were justified, and that the individual officers named in the suit should be entitled to public official immunity and dismissed from the lawsuit.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
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McDonnell wrote in a report made public Thursday that two officers were justified in using deadly force against Lauren, 52, who pointed a gun and fired at officers during a standoff in the backyard of her Eagle Rock home in April.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This team is inconsistent, sloppy and soft.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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Just six of those came in the second half and the Bruins took better care of the ball while running their offense more efficiently, but sloppy play and frustration have flared up despite the Bruins’ veteran leadership.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sincerity never sounds saccharine in Ives’ hands.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Even if Project Hail Mary at times leans into the sentiment to an almost saccharine degree, the movie’s natural sweetness is disarming.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The island’s whitewashed, clifftop village offers romantic views of the Aegean Sea, and a steep, zig-zagging path climbs up the hillside to a church.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 Mar. 2026
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Sterilized, whitewashed, controlled, censored – all those words apply.—
Jim Axelrod,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Under a new law, some items, including candy and certain sugary drinks, will no longer qualify through the program at grocery stores statewide.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
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Colorado’s restrictions on sugary drinks has been approved by USDA, but the state has delayed implementation beyond April 30 and expects a final board vote on April 3, meaning no new purchase limits will start there this week, according to the Colorado Department of Human Services.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sugarcoated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sugarcoated. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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