Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

sugarcoat

verb
/ˈʃʌɡərˌkoʊt/
Definition
To make something seem more pleasant or acceptable than it really is, often by presenting it in a way that minimizes its unpleasant aspects.
Examples
  • She tried to sugarcoat the bad news to avoid upsetting her friend.
  • He didn’t want to sugarcoat his feedback, so he spoke honestly about the project’s flaws.
  • It’s easy to sugarcoat a story if you want to make it sound more appealing.
Meaning
Sugarcoating involves embellishing or glossing over the truth to make it easier to deal with or to soften the impact of a negative message.
Synonyms
  • soften
  • embellish
  • gloss over
  • dilute
  • misrepresent