as in justifies
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 sugarcoats
But Shiffrin rarely sugarcoats her feelings.
—
Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sugarcoats
Verb
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The concept shared by these two works is the idea that colonial and authoritarian societies are held together through the presence of a scapegoat (The Barbarians) whose existence justifies the need for all the tools a society uses to build and maintain control.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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Every clash justifies the next.—
Joe Palaggi,
Twin Cities,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This explains why parents have so little patience for the complaint.—
Daniel Smith,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
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In that sense, Coddington explains that legacy is not measured solely by what is transferred.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In professional sports, excuses age quickly.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
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The rep excuses herself; in the hallway, Stephen congratulates Lucy.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sugarcoats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sugarcoats. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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