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 film’s British production, and its British filmmaker, can’t help but occupy a large section of the movie’s negative space, inviting questions about who and what exactly is being satirized (or perhaps patronized) in this tale of warring desert nations.
—
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 29 Dec. 2025
That includes naming products after local landmarks, encouraging visitors to patronize other local businesses and paying every employee a living wage.
—Mary Ramsey
updated December 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Dec. 2025
Despite the recent boom in homeschooling—and the rapid growth of voucher systems, which provide public dollars for private schools—most Americans continue to patronize their local public schools.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, people on both sides of the divide say Weiss and her senior leaders have brought a newspaper journalist’s sometimes patronizing attitude to television broadcasting.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 29 Dec. 2025
That includes naming products after local landmarks, encouraging visitors to patronize other local businesses and paying every employee a living wage.
—Mary Ramsey
updated December 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Dec. 2025
Despite the recent boom in homeschooling—and the rapid growth of voucher systems, which provide public dollars for private schools—most Americans continue to patronize their local public schools.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, people on both sides of the divide say Weiss and her senior leaders have brought a newspaper journalist’s sometimes patronizing attitude to television broadcasting.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronize
Verb
-
Susannah Fullerton on the French Writer’s Feline Muses La Chatte condescended to live with Colette (Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette), born in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, France, in 1873, died in Paris, 1954, novelist, actress and journalist.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
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Wendy is condescending, and even in their back and forth displayed all of the dismissive and snide psychoanalysis that Angel was alleging, but her inability to land zingers is always going to leave her on her back foot.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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It was signed by the leaders of Denmark, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Spain and Poland, and later endorsed by other key regional players.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2026
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After her announcement, Lacore was endorsed by EMILYs List, a liberal group that works to elect women to higher office, and The Bench, a new Democratic group boosting a range of candidates in competitive districts.—
Benjamin Siegel,
ABC News,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Local residents have advocated for a more permanent solution to the violent elephant encounters, and for the families of the deceased to be compensated.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
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The Department of Angels is a nonprofit organization that advocates for wildfire survivors.—
Jasmine Viel,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Carolina cut the lead 17-14 at halftime after a 1-yard touchdown run by Hubbard and a 16-yard scramble by Young, the second-longest TD run of his career.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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This same staff cut him to make room for a waiver-wire claim before the start of the 2024 season.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The platform generates full, commercially usable compositions from text prompts, with tools for editing lyrics, timing, and instrumentation, and supports multi stem downloads for traditional studio workflows.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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The diplomat also said that other major powers are unlikely to support the board in its current form.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patronize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronize. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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