sugarcoat

[ shoog-er-koht ]
See synonyms for: sugarcoatsugarcoated on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to cover with sugar: to sugarcoat a pill.

  2. to make (something difficult or distasteful) appear more pleasant or acceptable: There was no way to sugarcoat the bad news.

Origin of sugarcoat

1
First recorded in 1865–70; sugar + coat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sugarcoat in a sentence

  • "It isn't necessary to sugar coat the pill, parson," smiled Frank.

    Frank Merriwell's Son | Burt L. Standish
  • You understand very well, too, how to sugar-coat the most bitter pills.

    Letters to an Unknown | Prosper Mrime

British Dictionary definitions for sugar-coat

sugar-coat

verb(tr)
  1. to coat or cover with sugar

  2. to cause to appear more attractive; make agreeable

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012