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
Relevance
2
as in endorsing
to promote the interests or cause of
a company that loyally patronizes the arts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in condescending
Related Words
Dissimilar 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 patronizing
Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2025
If your partner takes a patronizing tone or talks down to you, even while making a reasonable request, take note, Jackson said.
—Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025
Kate seems a bit more reluctant to play along this time, in part because Laurie’s comments about Jaclyn are more overtly critical than the patronizing tone of the earlier scene.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2025
The same is true of the inconsistent — and patronizing — use of translation.
—Samuel Ashworth, Washington Post, 24 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Verb
And all the polite cheeriness about singlehood—especially from partnered people, in a society still designed for couples—can feel disingenuous and patronizing.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2025
If your partner takes a patronizing tone or talks down to you, even while making a reasonable request, take note, Jackson said.
—Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025
Kate seems a bit more reluctant to play along this time, in part because Laurie’s comments about Jaclyn are more overtly critical than the patronizing tone of the earlier scene.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2025
The same is true of the inconsistent — and patronizing — use of translation.
—Samuel Ashworth, Washington Post, 24 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronizing
Verb
-
Weighing The Risks And Rewards Companies need to weigh the benefits and downsides of endorsing political nominees and appointees.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Manhattan Democratic Party boss Keith Wright is endorsing Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan’s 2025 bid for city comptroller, dealing a blow to Mark Levine, Manhattan’s borough president who’s running against Brannan.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
That study was a bit controversial, in part for what was perceived to be its condescending tone, along with questions about its methodology.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Understanding this is about advocating for yourself and ensuring your contributions are seen and valued.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Arab nations have voiced strong opposition, advocating instead for a multibillion-dollar reconstruction plan to allow Palestinians to remain in Gaza.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Avoid being domineering, but also avoid being stepped on by someone else.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 July 2025
-
My Mom Died is a heartbreaking and hilarious recounting of McCurdy’s struggles as a former child actor while dealing with her overbearing, domineering mother.—
Charley Ross,
Glamour,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
The top priority for now is identifying the victims, supporting their families and treating the two survivors, Choi told a disaster management meeting in Seoul.—
Ju-min Park and Hongji Kim,
USA TODAY,
31 Dec. 2024
-
If your current job in comms is growing stale, consider pivoting to supporting an organization fighting climate change.—
Aliza Knox,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
That would make humans, rather than the moon, the dominant driver of changes to day length.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
22 July 2025
-
With that change, China, the world’s largest pork producer, also became the dominant supplier of crude heparin.—
Thomas J. Bollyky,
Foreign Affairs,
22 July 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
Cite this Entry
“Patronizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronizing. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share