sugarcoats

verb

present tense third-person singular of sugarcoat
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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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 sugarcoats But Shiffrin rarely sugarcoats her feelings. — Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sugarcoats
  1. justifies
  2. explains
  3. excuses
Verb
  • Human Rights Watch did not seek to establish membership, noting that neither gang affiliation nor a criminal record justifies excessive force or an extrajudicial killing.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Building a new jail, the suit claims, doesn’t meet the legal test that justifies extended after-hours work, which are allowed only on (among other things) projects that are in the interest of public health and safety.
    — Curbed, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of justifies
Verb
  • That explains how, in a system in which all politicians purport to follow their conscience, nearly every consequential issue is decided by a straight party vote.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Retailers want to see that brands are generating sales, Nafousi explains, yet driving those conversions can require more spending on marketing and in-store visibility.
    — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of explains
Verb
  • So much so that the Texas head football coach excuses its 80th national ranking in offense.
    — Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Created in 2007, PSLF excuses the federal student debt of government and nonprofit workers after 120 qualifying monthly payments.
    — Jessica Dickler,Annie Nova, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of excuses

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sugar daddies
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Cite this Entry

“Sugarcoats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sugarcoats. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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