verb
sugarcoat
SHUU-guh-koht
Sugarcoat (verb) means to make something unpleasant seem more acceptable or attractive than it really is. Example: “The manager tried to sugarcoat the bad news about layoffs.”
verb
1
To make something unpleasant seem more acceptable or attractive than it really is.
"There's no way to sugarcoat the loss of the space shuttle; it was an unmitigated disaster."
"The manager tried to sugarcoat the bad news about layoffs."
"Don't sugarcoat it — just tell me what went wrong."
""The insurgents killed them all?" "Very likely." Scout's expression was kindly, but he was apparently not the sort to sugarcoat things. Then again, maybe he had simply read her receptivity well."
— HarryBlank, Fire in the Hole (2023)
How to use sugarcoat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo soften bad news or make something unpleasant sound better than it is.
Common pairings
sugarcoat the truth
don't sugarcoat it
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- sugarcoats
- Past tense
- sugarcoated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The manager tried to _____ the bad news about layoffs.
Etymology
From sugar plus coat, based on the old practice of coating bitter medicine tablets in sugar to hide the taste.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sugarcoat
See all rhymes for 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.
