1
as in to condescend
to assume or treat with an air of superiority
a director with an unpleasant habit of patronizing even his most gifted actors
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to endorse
to promote the interests or cause of
a company that loyally patronizes the arts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of patronize
The result is drivers who never fully bought into the system altering their spending patterns to avoid patronizing Chicago businesses, restaurants and cultural attractions where street parking payment is required.
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Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
The traumas come from the way people responded, how they’ve been patronized and gaslit and shunned.
—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
10 June 2026
The Green family started patronizing the restaurant in the 1980s.
—
Ashley MacKin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
While women often visited less frequently—due both to distance, travel constraints and the fact that early retail environments were not designed with them in mind, Koehn says—most men at least occasionally patronized general stores, and many of them did so frequently.
—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
The traumas come from the way people responded, how they’ve been patronized and gaslit and shunned.
—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
10 June 2026
The Green family started patronizing the restaurant in the 1980s.
—
Ashley MacKin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
While women often visited less frequently—due both to distance, travel constraints and the fact that early retail environments were not designed with them in mind, Koehn says—most men at least occasionally patronized general stores, and many of them did so frequently.
—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronize
Verb
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Which raises questions about the unwittingly condescending cheers.
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Glassman has a reputation for being nasty and condescending to residents who disagree with him.
Verb
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Gray is endorsed by Kansas City’s branch of the Democratic Socialists of America, and represents the insurgent left flank of the Democratic Party in the race.
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In his speech, Nasrallah endorsed a decades-old death warrant placed on Rushdie by Iranian religious leaders in response to his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses.
Verb
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The lineup already was revving, as Rushing homered in the second inning while Sasaki was still in the game, and both Kyle Tucker and Muncy drove in runs off starter Randy Vasquez in the third, cutting the deficit to two.
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Potential applications beyond wind energy The researchers believe the manufacturing approach could cut production costs for small wind turbines and help more people use lightweight renewable energy technology.
Verb
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Instead of protecting oneself by avoiding risks, the article advocates for embracing curiosity to explore new ideas, experiment with AI, and develop uniquely human skills like critical thinking, communication, and creativity.
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The administration also cracked down on student protesters in 2025 for advocating on behalf of Palestinians during the war in Gaza.
Verb
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Gakpo's teammates came onto the filed to support him and formed a circle around him, putting their arms around each other as the crowd cheered, as shown in another video shared by Fox Sports.
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During pregnancy, iron demand increases to support both the baby and placenta, while postpartum recovery can further lower ferritin due to blood loss.
Cite this Entry
“Patronize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronize. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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