as in patronizing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of condescending
Carole Horst, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
That loathsome, condescending, low-brow slur would apparently include the 74 million people who voted for Trump in 2020, a record only Biden himself has bettered on his way to being maybe the worst president ever.
—Jay Ambrose, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2024
Both projects share a similar eye for the grotesquerie of the banal, with a generally condescending perspective toward rural desperation.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
Yes, Emily goes on to flip her condescending date the bird before bombarding a top Parisian designer in his box—two decidedly un-Audrey gestures.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Adjective
Indeed, at a welcoming dinner in Harrison’s mansion, Erzsébet swiftly puts the condescending and clueless guests away with her words, delivered with strength, dignity and sneaky bemusement.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
That loathsome, condescending, low-brow slur would apparently include the 74 million people who voted for Trump in 2020, a record only Biden himself has bettered on his way to being maybe the worst president ever.
—Jay Ambrose, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2024
Both projects share a similar eye for the grotesquerie of the banal, with a generally condescending perspective toward rural desperation.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
Yes, Emily goes on to flip her condescending date the bird before bombarding a top Parisian designer in his box—two decidedly un-Audrey gestures.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condescending
Adjective
-
There’s just something about it that’s very patronizing.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
29 May 2025
-
There's just something about it that's very patronizing.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
There is something dangerously, provocatively arrogant about his glorified gang leader looks.—
Timothy Crouse,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
-
The exiled poet was criticized for his arrogant attempts to influence British and American foreign policy.—
Graham Robb,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Carrie is described as a reimagining of the story of misfit high schooler Carrie White, who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
2 June 2025
-
Randall is a rebellious new patient at a mental institution who does battle with Louise Fletcher’s domineering head nurse Mildred Ratched.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Trump has even been disdainful or dismissive of the United States’ traditional allies, such as Mexico and Argentina.—
Christopher Sabatini,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Nov. 2017
-
Wise minds inside the Trump administration will hopefully choose to drop a suit first introduced during by a Biden administration reflexively disdainful of big.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The full moon in Sagittarius on June 11 will ignite your bossy 10th house of authority, urging you to take a closer look at how your professional life influences your personal life.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
6 June 2025
-
Their parents, too, are likable, loving, hard-working people, a little bossy now and then, but genuinely concerned for their children.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
The show perpetuates corporate media’s retaliation against those who oppose its leftist, Marxist, Communist, socialist agenda — the ideological myth favored by superficial and supercilious showbiz types ever since All the President’s Men and Network.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Arthur is … a lot too, but with a supercilious edge?—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
One chord appears to speak to the other, sounding almost impudent in their simplicity, equal parts ecstatic and heartbreakingly melancholic.—
Sam Davies,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2025
-
In short, Moscow sees Montenegro as both strategically valuable and an impudent upstart that has thumbed its nose at the Russian bear while genuflecting before NATO and Washington.—
Edward P. Joseph,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Dec. 2016
Adjective
-
Junior pitcher Kayla Schweich, a St. Cloud State commit, has been dominant in the circle for much of the year for Farmington, with Lexi Goring and Wisconsin commit Lila Johannsen filling out a lethal top of the order.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
2 June 2025
-
Edmonton has been just as dominant through the playoffs, coming back to beat Los Angeles in the first round before dispatching Vegas and Dallas.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Condescending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condescending. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share