condescend

verb

con·​de·​scend ˌkän-di-ˈsend 

condescended; condescending; condescends

intransitive verb

1

: to assume an air of superiority

The writer treats her readers as equals and never condescends to them.

2

a

: to descend to a less formal or dignified level : unbend

would not condescend to respond to such a crass remark

b

: to waive the privileges of rank

Did you know?

What is the difference between condescending and patronizing?

Very few words in English have exactly the same meaning; even words which appear to be entirely synonymous often will be found to have small differences in certain contexts. The words condescending and patronizing present a fine example of this. At first glance these words appear to be defined somewhat circularly: condescending often has the word "patronizing" in its definition, and patronize is defined, in part, as “to adopt an air of condescension toward.”

But both of these words have specialized senses that lend a shade of meaning to their synonymous senses. Patronizing can mean "giving support to" or "being a customer of," suggesting that the "condescending" sense implies superiority gained through a donor-dependent relationship.

The verb condescend used to be free of any hint of the offensive superiority it usually suggests today. It could mean literally "to go or come down" or, figuratively, "to willingly lower oneself to another’s level," senses that are still occasionally encountered in writings on the Bible. The idea of self-consciously lowering oneself is implied in the "patronizing" sense of condescending.

Synonyms

• deign
• stoop

Examples of condescend in a Sentence

I will not condescend to answer the sore loser's charge that I cheated in order to win the race.

wealthy people who tend to be condescending toward their poor relations

Recent Examples on the Web

Backseat driving their life Constantly being told how to handle your job, hobbies or even your friendships will leave you feeling controlled and condescended. —Jourdan Travers, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2025

Which left two of its longtime fans on the TIME culture team feeling a bit disappointed and condescended to. —Judy Berman, Time, 24 Apr. 2025

The twins, who’ve made some cash working in Chicago for Al Capone, buy an old sawmill from a condescending white man named Hogwood (David Maldonado), who promises the KKK is no longer around these parts, so they won’t be bothered. —Angelique Jackson, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025

What the narrator has to get away from is the assortment of low-grade humiliations and condescending attitudes she is confronted with every day while clocked in at the restaurant. —Rhian Sasseen, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French condescendre, from Late Latin condescendere, from Latin com- + descendere to descend

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for condescend

• apprehend
• comprehend
• dividend
• recommend
• resuspend
• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend

Kids Definition

condescend

verb

con·​de·​scend ˌkän-di-ˈsend 

1

: to lower oneself to a level considered less dignified or humbler than one's own

2

: to act in a way that suggests that one considers oneself better than other people

condescendingly

-ˈsen-diŋ-lē

adverb