as in condescending
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in cutting
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
2
as in endorsing
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 patronizing
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
Used in a patronizing context toward a rule follower, this trend is usually used to mock rather than compliment.
—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
4 Dec. 2025
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
As that reopening date nears, some longtime residents have waxed nostalgic over its legacy as a beacon of entertainment in a community that was barred from patronizing other theaters in North Texas.
—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Adjective
Seidi Haarla is compelling as a woman at her wits’ end, running on fumes, but special mention must go to grown-up Harry Potter star Grint as the patronizing Jon.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
Used in a patronizing context toward a rule follower, this trend is usually used to mock rather than compliment.
—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
Staff are well-trained and proactive without being patronizing, and the hotel’s smaller scale makes navigation easy.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
As that reopening date nears, some longtime residents have waxed nostalgic over its legacy as a beacon of entertainment in a community that was barred from patronizing other theaters in North Texas.
—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronizing
Adjective
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Ahead of his team’s clash with Australia, Turkey captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu completely dismissed his opponent in a surprisingly honest and condescending assessment.
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Which bear is the most condescending?
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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The Rockets essentially dumped Finney-Smith in a cost-cutting move after making some free agent transactions, notably signing guard Marcus Smart, and surrendered three second-rounders to the Hornets to seal the deal.
Verb
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In that election, the president made another last-minute entry for the three-term congressman, endorsing Feenstra four days before the election against Lahn, who edged out the win by less 1 percentage point.
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Supergirl, a more prominent character than usual, is badly damaged from the attempt, which does not feature Gunn writing or directing, only jubilantly endorsing what is an extremely subpar film.
Adjective
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Musk’s company has inked lucrative AI deals with Anthropic and Google and plans to be the domineering firm behind orbital data centers, which SpaceX has said could be deployed as early as 2028.
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Many figures within evangelicalism have promoted an aggressive, domineering, even abusive view of manhood—affixing to it, as Du Mez argues, the label biblical.
Verb
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Anthropic urges rapid government action against catastrophic risks, advocating for direct governance and third-party testing.
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The attorneys say Kil had spent years advocating for students and ensuring the university was inclusive.
Adjective
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Brazil cruised past Scotland in a dominant victory in Miami.
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Without registering a goal or an assist, Pedri has been the best passer in a Spain midfield unit that has looked secure and dominant with the ball, albeit against two far less talented opponents.
Verb
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In a recent interview on PEOPLE in 10, Chloe opened up about supporting Halle at a screening for her You, Me & Tuscany rom-com in April.
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Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie will be honored during ESPYS week in July with the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award for his work supporting the global autism community.
Adjective
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Amusingly enough, someone who was neither perplexed nor disdainful was a young cast member by the name of Stephen Colbert.
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His whole behavior toward women is so disdainful.
Cite this Entry
“Patronizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronizing. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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