sugarcoat
2 synonyms for sugarcoat, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make something unpleasant seem more acceptable or attractive than it really is.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
How to use sugarcoat
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sugarcoat the truth
don't sugarcoat it
Etymology
From sugar plus coat, based on the old practice of coating bitter medicine tablets in sugar to hide the taste.
Full origin of sugarcoat →Frequently asked questions
What does “sugarcoat” mean?
The word “sugarcoat” means to make something unpleasant seem more acceptable or attractive than it really is. In plain terms, to soften bad news or make something unpleasant sound better than it is.
How do you pronounce “sugarcoat”?
“Sugarcoat” is pronounced SHUU-guh-koht (/ˈʃʊɡɚˌkoʊt/ in IPA).
How do you use “sugarcoat” in a sentence?
Here is “sugarcoat” used in a sentence: “The manager tried to sugarcoat the bad news about layoffs.”
What part of speech is “sugarcoat”?
“Sugarcoat” is a verb.
