Definition of condescending
: showing or characterized by a patronizing or superior attitude toward others
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Examples of condescending in a Sentence
- The next big sequel to roll off the assembly line (awful, condescending phrase, but this is a case of what you have to do when the shoe fits) is going to be a sequel to "Rebecca," Daphne du Maurier's classic 1930's suspense novel. —Stephen King, New York Times Book Review, 6 June 1993
- … when the picturesque was seen close up, the "happy poverty" of the peasant was not always happy. There was something unpleasantly condescending, an element of esthetic slumming in the tourist's or the artist's view of picturesqueness. —Anatole Broyard, New York Times Book Review, 1 Oct. 1989
- I always imagined publishers were rather snarky and condescending and made a point of crabbing one's work, but he didn't a bit. —Elizabeth Bowen, letter, 19 Jan. 1923
His comments were offensive and condescending to us.
Recent Examples of condescending from the Web
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This is not meant in a condescending way, so don’t go there, but understand this: For the Pacers, Tyreke Evans is an absolute home run in free agency.
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Lea Kalisch’s Daphna is just as good at being awful – condescending and abrasive, always picking away at emotional scabs, Daphna is a memorable character if not an appealing one.
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Will her doctor give her a condescending lecture, or gently persuade her to cut her alcohol intake?
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On the body camera video, Grams was sarcastic and condescending almost immediately.
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Now, no woman can get up and seriously discuss a subject like this without being painfully aware that her talk is going to inspire a lot of condescending little smiles and mildly humorous winks.
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My grandfather never spoke, and my grandmother was severe and condescending.
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The Rich Friends' solution to this drama is to comp the Poor Friends' Hootie and the Blowfish tickets, which comes off more condescending than sincere.
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Remember that somewhat condescending Winona Ryder hair-care commercial where we were told that everyone deserves a second chance?
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'condescending.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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.
Origin and Etymology of condescending
CONDESCENDING Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of condescending for English Language Learners
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: showing that you believe you are more intelligent or better than other people
Learn More about condescending
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See words that rhyme with condescending Spanish Central: Translation of condescending Nglish: Translation of condescending for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of condescending for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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