1
as in to stoop
to descend to a level that is beneath one's dignity
I will not condescend to answer the sore loser's charge that I cheated in order to win the race
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to patronize
to assume or treat with an air of superiority
wealthy people who tend to be condescending toward their poor relations
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Recent Examples of condescend
Johannes acts as a stand-in for all the shitty men women in music have to deal with, the ones who condescend, belittle, mansplain, and gaslight.
—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 26 Jan. 2026
Bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile aimed wrathful lyrics and gallows humor at a culture of misogyny that plagued their daily lives, from condescending male musicians to abusive fathers.
—Judy Berman, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
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
What makes Hudson’s performance so potent is its refusal to condescend.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescend
Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 26 Jan. 2026
Bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile aimed wrathful lyrics and gallows humor at a culture of misogyny that plagued their daily lives, from condescending male musicians to abusive fathers.
—Judy Berman, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
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
What makes Hudson’s performance so potent is its refusal to condescend.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condescend
Verb
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Twain, of course, never stooped to fart jokes or hunchback gags in pursuit of a giggle.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
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High-torque joints in the waist enable deep squatting and stooping, supporting operations that require strength and flexibility.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Stop using your mediocre academics as a way to patronize communities.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Mar. 2026
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At Manhattan’s Metropolis Vintage—a sprawling destination that has been patronized by A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, and Drake—that legacy is on full display.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Condescend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condescend. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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