sugarcoat UK /ˈʃʊɡəˌkəʊt/US /ˈʃʊɡɚˌkoʊt/verb 2forms 3phrases 1 verb2 •To coat with sugar. •(figurative) To make superficially more attractive; to give a falsely pleasant appearance to.There's no way to sugarcoat the loss of the space shuttle; it was an unmitigated disaster. formssugarcoated · sugarcoating · sugarcoats Phrases with sugarcoat sugarcoat the pillTo make an unpleasant event less displeasing.