as in patronizing
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1
as in stooping
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cutting
to assume or treat with an air of superiority
wealthy people who tend to be condescending toward their poor relations
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of condescending
Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Dismissing these concerns as mere xenophobia is both condescending and factually wrong.
—Letters To The Editor, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
John Bowe, CNBC, 28 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
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Adjective
That song is fantastic to me because… pet names can be very condescending.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Dismissing these concerns as mere xenophobia is both condescending and factually wrong.
—Letters To The Editor, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
This phrase is typically dismissive, condescending, and a little bit haughty, even when intended as humor.
—John Bowe, CNBC, 28 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
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condescending
Adjective
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John’s patronizing, congratulatory tone with regard to Weisz’s character’s dalliance with Vlad doesn’t help.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
9 Mar. 2026
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Also, a 2021 study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research documented hostile environments in economics seminars, with female presenters experiencing more interruptions and encountering more patronizing behavior.—
Yana van der Meulen Rodgers,
The Conversation,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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Dier was stooping slightly but the Portuguese midfielder’s leg was at least chest-high.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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To this point, the Heat arguably have been too stubborn, or too arrogant, in belief that the quick fix was just around the corner.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
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His style is relaxed and confident, not arrogant.—
Tara Klein,
SPIN,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Token, pushover human Seth (Gil Ozeri) lives under the thumb of the tiny, domineering dog Brandi (the incomparable Amy Sedaris), a high maintenance diva with a yen for single-use Stanley cups.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
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After moving at a glacial pace—it’s been 20 years since the original 2006 film—the movie is having its world premiere on Monday evening, reintroducing a select group of New Yorkers to Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly, the chicly domineering editor in chief of Runway magazine.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
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British writers’ disdainful accounts of the Rathayatra led, metonymically, to a pejorative sense of a juggernaut as a massive crushing vehicle, which was later extrapolated to its present meaning in English usage.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Interactions with friends and groups could get out of hand with high energy that becomes bossy.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
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That conceptual tension has led early users to experience agentic AI as a sort of bossy servant.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As Wilson, Jenny Ashman is suitably snide and supercilious, a great comic villain.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
29 Jan. 2026
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And now the supercilious Ivy League twits try to dodge the consequences of their woke follies.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
24 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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His first goal was pretty enough, an inch-perfect sidefoot just inside Donnarumma’s far post, but his second was a work of impudent art.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Gemma reluctantly agrees to rebuild her impudent robot in a new body, and the sequel ends with an explosive showdown between Amelia and M3GAN, who nearly dies in a noble attempt to save Gemma and her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw).—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Condescending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condescending. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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