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.
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Recent Examples of sugarcoating
That has to improve, and there is no sugarcoating it.
—
Chad Graff, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
What Compassionate Leadership Looks Like Compassionate leadership doesn’t mean avoiding hard decisions or sugarcoating the truth.
—Kiran Mann, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Nunemaker said the search committee tried to give Sajet a realistic picture of the museum, the board and Milwaukee as a place to live without sugarcoating or underselling anything.
—Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Special team woes continue There’s no sugarcoating it, the Horned Frogs have issues on special teams after another rough day by the unit.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2025
In lieu of sugarcoating the possibility of being made whole again and/or overstating the extent to which a mutual understanding might allow these characters to identify their common enemy, the film cannonballs into the grim absurdity of a world that’s lost control of itself.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2025
Chad Graff, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
What Compassionate Leadership Looks Like Compassionate leadership doesn’t mean avoiding hard decisions or sugarcoating the truth.
—Kiran Mann, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Nunemaker said the search committee tried to give Sajet a realistic picture of the museum, the board and Milwaukee as a place to live without sugarcoating or underselling anything.
—Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Special team woes continue There’s no sugarcoating it, the Horned Frogs have issues on special teams after another rough day by the unit.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2025
In lieu of sugarcoating the possibility of being made whole again and/or overstating the extent to which a mutual understanding might allow these characters to identify their common enemy, the film cannonballs into the grim absurdity of a world that’s lost control of itself.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sugarcoating
Verb
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Disorders like tremors can be traced to specific misbehaving circuits in the brain, Munyon said while explaining the procedure.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Oct. 2025
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Robinson also leans on ChatGPT to talk through lifestyle adjustments like meal prep ideas, travel accommodations, and communication strategies for explaining her health needs to clients and colleagues.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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During the event, Dixon argued in favor of armed political action, while justifying it as self-defense against Nazis, fascists and White supremacists.—
Julia Bonavita , Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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That was until Eric Adams stepped in with a rare veto on the council’s vote, justifying his decision by claiming that the Bronx should have the same odds to be chosen for a casino as other parts of New York City.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Celebrating or excusing violence is abhorrent.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Procedures for excusing or deferring jury duty differs by county, according to the state’s judicial website.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Film workers for Palestine target those complicit, film companies and institutions, that are whitewashing or justifying Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its apartheid regime.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
15 Sep. 2025
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The pledge and the accompanying FAQs clearly state that the targets are complicit Israeli film institutions and companies, given their pervasive involvement in whitewashing or justifying Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its apartheid regime against all Palestinians.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sugarcoating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sugarcoating. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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