1
as in stooping
to descend to a level that is beneath one's dignity
I will not condescend to answer the sore loser's charge that I cheated in order to win the race
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cutting
to assume or treat with an air of superiority
wealthy people who tend to be condescending toward their poor relations
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in patronizing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of condescending
Kiran Desai, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2025
And while the Padres manager could stand to be a little more creative and a little less condescending, sometimes there is nothing else to say.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Verb
But his smiling at Black people on the street felt false and condescending, rooted in a wish to be accepted into this neighborhood of elegant brownstones and a quick subway line to Manhattan, while also cohabiting with Ulla, who was essential to his self-respect.
—Kiran Desai, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2025
And while the Padres manager could stand to be a little more creative and a little less condescending, sometimes there is nothing else to say.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
Adjective
These can often be perceived as condescending, disguising advice within a seemingly innocuous question.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condescending
Verb
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This position involves stooping, lifting and consolidating large bags of recycling and refuse.—
Kirby Adams,
Louisville Courier Journal,
16 Sep. 2025
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The show, known for its Emmy Award winning costumes, was quick to help conceal Coon’s pregnancy without stooping to TV gimmicks.—
Avalon Hester,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Shop In Uptown Put your plastic to good use by patronizing Uptown’s lovely community of small businesses.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
1 Sep. 2025
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All were charged with patronizing prositution while eight people were charged with solicitaion of a minor.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Zane played the arrogant Cal Hockley, who was engaged to Jack's love interest, Rose (played by Kate Winslet).—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Hardly seems like enough to cow these arrogant companies into behaving, especially when their business model is so intrinsically tied to hoovering up other people’s information and creative work.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Managers often grow more assertive (sometimes drifting into domineering).—
Dave Winsborough,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Also in the cast: Emmy winner Laurie Metcalfe, as Augusta Gein, the murderer's religious, domineering mother; Tom Hollander as director Alfred Hitchcock; Olivia Williams as the filmmaker's wife, Alma Reville Hitchcock; and Lesley Manville, as Gein's second murder victim, Bernice Worden.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Talking about the huddle, one of his teammates just walked off the field inexplicably (Governor Kugler) taking early retirement and two others (Waller and Bowman) are openly disdainful of his play calling.—
Bob Haber,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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For decades, the Academy seemed to keep Cruise at a vaguely disdainful distance, dismissing him as more of an action figure than a serious ack-TOOR.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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The character, Olivia’s bossy butler, is one of the greatest parts in Shakespeare, and Dinklage delights in it.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
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August begins with Mars’ debut in Libra, energizing your bossy 10th house of authority, career and reputation in the world, prompting you to focus on your professional life and public image, which leaves little time for romance.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Klára works at a grocery store formerly owned by the family of her colleague Elza (Hermina Fátyol) but now taken over by a supercilious Stalinist (Konrád Quintus) who doesn’t bother hiding his disdain for the two Jewish women.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
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The plot revolves around the attempts of various parties to get a hold of a Lakota ghost shirt that has come into the possession of a supercilious business tycoon and acquirer of rare artifacts, Pendleton Duvall (Toby Huss).—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Gemma reluctantly agrees to rebuild her impudent robot in a new body, and the sequel ends with an explosive showdown between Amelia and M3GAN, who nearly dies in a noble attempt to save Gemma and her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw).—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 June 2025
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Fortunately, Snow White’s newfound enlightenment does not deny her the possibility of romance, although princes are now strictly off-limits; her love interest here is a fetchingly impudent bandit, Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who is leading a scrappy rebellion against the Evil Queen.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Condescending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condescending. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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