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
Sarah Scott, Parents, 4 Dec. 2025
Fear-mongering, which comes off equal parts paranoid and patronizing, is the surest way to make people stop listening.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Nahid Siamdoust, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Eigenberger said the public can also support by patronizing the business, which will remain open during regular business hours even through the extreme cold this weekend.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Adjective
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
Fear-mongering, which comes off equal parts paranoid and patronizing, is the surest way to make people stop listening.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
By the turn of the 21st century, ordinary Iranians were patronizing internet cafés—Tehran alone had about 1,500 by 2001—and meeting in online chat rooms.
—Nahid Siamdoust, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Eigenberger said the public can also support by patronizing the business, which will remain open during regular business hours even through the extreme cold this weekend.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronizing
Adjective
-
Which bear is the most condescending?—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
-
And the motivational quotes on the walls are so condescending.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Tempo didn’t make things easy, cutting the deficit to two points late and later trailing by just three with 31 seconds remaining and possession of the ball.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
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The bridge demonstrates a new, lighter approach to low-carbon infrastructure, cutting waste and CO₂ by depositing concrete only where needed.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Verb
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After that, the ministry stopped endorsing visas, preventing many humanitarian workers from entering Gaza and the West Bank.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
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All five sitting county supervisors are endorsing Luna.—
The Editorial Board,
Daily News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Down at the bottom of the hierarchy, or really not ranked at all, is Lucien (Jérémy Gillet), a fey and cosseted twink of privilege who longs to meet Jim but is kept at home, safely away from anything gay, by his domineering mother.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
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Arenberg will play the sisters’ domineering father.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Verb
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While production processes are being reformed, some are advocating that the government pursue low-cost alternatives to high-end weapons systems.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
12 May 2026
-
Shuck joined several residents in the Oak Park neighborhood who have been advocating in City Hall for Bluejacket Pool to be rebuilt in their neighborhood for years, with their most recent efforts coming forward as Overland Park creates its new 10-year parks and recreation plan.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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Morrow was especially dominant in the second, putting up 10 points and six rebounds to come just shy of a second straight first-half double-double.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
Nadella was referring to an earlier technology era, when Microsoft became more important than IBM, the dominant computer maker at the time.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Other bills could lead to new relief for small businesses in the future, with lawmakers endorsing the creation of studies and working groups that will look at things like supporting artificial intelligence use by small businesses and tourism.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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Legal departments also use it for contract review against standard terms, analyzing negotiation language, processing large document sets for relevant arguments, and supporting intellectual property monitoring.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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The popularity of e-bikes and e-motos has soared since the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving lawmakers and law enforcement scrambling to regulate the bikes that are often used by young riders ignorant or disdainful of the rules of the road.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
22 Apr. 2026
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In real life, Natalie is detached from her children and disdainful of her spouse, prone to violent outbursts as the farm spins out of her control.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patronizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronizing. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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