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
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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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Recent Examples of condescending
Letters To The Editor, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Worse, Trump's condescending and coercive relationship with Zelensky—evident since the impeachment scandal—undermines trust.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Angela Haupt, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
If this premiere is any indicator, Keiarna is going to have to sharpen her digs a bit so that Wendy doesn’t get to easily dismiss or minimize what clearly seems to be a passive-aggressive or condescending subtext in their dynamic.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Adjective
Dismissing these concerns as mere xenophobia is both condescending and factually wrong.
—Letters To The Editor, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Worse, Trump's condescending and coercive relationship with Zelensky—evident since the impeachment scandal—undermines trust.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
Narcissists are known for their sense of entitlement, self-centeredness, superiority complex, and condescending attitude toward others.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
If this premiere is any indicator, Keiarna is going to have to sharpen her digs a bit so that Wendy doesn’t get to easily dismiss or minimize what clearly seems to be a passive-aggressive or condescending subtext in their dynamic.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condescending
Adjective
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Fear-mongering, which comes off equal parts paranoid and patronizing, is the surest way to make people stop listening.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Engelbert has received a ton of backlash recently after the commissioner allegedly made dismissive and patronizing remarks about player concerns.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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This position involves stooping, lifting and consolidating large bags of recycling and refuse.—
Kirby Adams,
Louisville Courier Journal,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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So long as that situation continues, the 43-year-old’s allegedly arrogant and stand-offish treatment of his players will not worry the club hierarchy too much.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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The pilot opens with Powell’s character, arrogant college quarterback Russ Holliday, leading his Oregon Ducks team in the National Championship game against Georgia at the Rose Bowl.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In the new film, a young Victor (Christian Convery) is raised by a cruel, domineering dad (Charles Dance) but loves his mother (Mia Goth).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
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Ladd played Lula’s domineering mother and earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her performance.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Godchaux was a divisive figure among Grateful Dead devotees — many fans were frankly outright disdainful of her presence on stage.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
3 Nov. 2025
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He’s been sullen all day, sunk in his collar, his face disdainful.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Sybil was hotelier Basil Fawlty’s acerbic and bossy wife, who argued frequently with Basil and was often the subject of his ire.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2025
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On the show, Scales’ bossy Sybil Fawlty and Cleese’s dysfunctional Basil Fawlty run a hotel in the town of Torquay in Devon, England.—
Rhett Bartlett,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Klára works at a grocery store formerly owned by the family of her colleague Elza (Hermina Fátyol) but now taken over by a supercilious Stalinist (Konrád Quintus) who doesn’t bother hiding his disdain for the two Jewish women.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
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The plot revolves around the attempts of various parties to get a hold of a Lakota ghost shirt that has come into the possession of a supercilious business tycoon and acquirer of rare artifacts, Pendleton Duvall (Toby Huss).—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Fortunately, Snow White’s newfound enlightenment does not deny her the possibility of romance, although princes are now strictly off-limits; her love interest here is a fetchingly impudent bandit, Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who is leading a scrappy rebellion against the Evil Queen.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Condescending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condescending. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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