Antonyms for "candycoating" could include blunt, direct, harsh, honest, realistic, truthful, and unsweetened. When we candycoat something, we are putting a sweet or pleasant spin on a situation or information; however, using antonyms like direct or honest indicate giving information without sugarcoating it. Realistic or unsweetened means presenting information without any alterations or exaggerations. If we use the word harsh, it indicates that the information given is negative and difficult to digest. To make things clear and to the point, the use of antonyms like blunt or truthful might be helpful. While candycoating can sometimes have its benefits, sometimes it is better to confront the whole picture head-on.