'sugar-like' originates from English as a compound of 'sugar' and the suffix '-like'; 'sugar' ultimately comes from Arabic 'sukkar' and Sanskrit 'śarkarā' (meaning 'grit' or 'sugar'), while the suffix '-like' is from Old English '-līc' meaning 'having the body of'.

'sugar' entered Middle English from Old French and Medieval Latin (via Arabic and earlier Sanskrit), appearing in forms like 'sugre' before becoming modern 'sugar'. The element '-like' comes from Old English 'līc'/'-līc' that formed adjectives; the modern adjectival suffix '-like' developed from this.

Initially the components meant 'the substance sugar' and 'having the body of'; combining them simply described resemblance to sugar. Over time, the compound has retained that literal meaning and gained a figurative sense of being overly sweet or insincere.