Sugarcoat: meaning, definitions and examples

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sugarcoat

 

[ ˈʃʊɡərˌkoʊt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

figurative language

To sugarcoat means to make something seem more appealing or acceptable than it really is, often by minimizing the negative aspects. This term is commonly used in communication to suggest that someone is softening the truth or adding excessive positivity to a statement.

Synonyms

embellish, gloss over, minimize, soften.

Examples of usage

  • She tried to sugarcoat the bad news.
  • Politicians often sugarcoat their promises.
  • He sugarcoated his feedback to avoid hurting her feelings.

Translations

Translations of the word "sugarcoat" in other languages:

🇵🇹 embelizar

🇮🇳 मीठा करना

🇩🇪 beschönigen

🇮🇩 menghaluskan

🇺🇦 пригладжувати

🇵🇱 upiększać

🇯🇵 美化する

🇫🇷 embellir

🇪🇸 embellecer

🇹🇷 güzel göstermek

🇰🇷 미화하다

🇸🇦 تزيين

🇨🇿 zkrášlit

🇸🇰 skrášliť

🇨🇳 美化

🇸🇮 olepšati

🇮🇸 fegja

🇰🇿 көркемдеу

🇬🇪 გალამაზება

🇦🇿 gözəlləşdirmək

🇲🇽 embellecer

Etymology

The term 'sugarcoat' originates from the literal act of coating food with sugar to make it taste sweeter and more pleasant. The metaphorical use of the word emerged in the early 20th century, evolving to describe the practice of making unpleasant facts more palatable or acceptable. This figurative language reflects a common human tendency to avoid confronting harsh truths and instead present a more favorable viewpoint. Over the years, 'sugarcoat' has been widely adopted in both casual and formal language, particularly in contexts related to communication, marketing, and politics. Its popularity has increased with the rise of social media, where individuals often present an idealized version of reality.