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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in patronizing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of condescending
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
That study was a bit controversial, in part for what was perceived to be its condescending tone, along with questions about its methodology.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2025
Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Verb
And while the Padres manager could stand to be a little more creative and a little less condescending, sometimes there is nothing else to say.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
That study was a bit controversial, in part for what was perceived to be its condescending tone, along with questions about its methodology.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2025
Adjective
These can often be perceived as condescending, disguising advice within a seemingly innocuous question.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condescending
Verb
-
Mikel Merino used one of those runs to score for Arsenal with a stooping near-post header in March and in the example below, Keane Lewis-Potter of Brentford gets a header away from the penalty spot under no pressure as Chelsea are committed to defending the six-yard box.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
-
To reduce bending and stooping, the beds should be at least 36 inches tall, said Aguilar in the news release.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Shop In Uptown Put your plastic to good use by patronizing Uptown’s lovely community of small businesses.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
1 Sep. 2025
-
All were charged with patronizing prositution while eight people were charged with solicitaion of a minor.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
These early years emphasized goofiness, offensiveness, and mocking arrogant celebrities who pushed their platforms at award shows.—
Chris Yogerst,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Aug. 2025
-
The announcement was made during a backstage segment involving NXT General Manager Ava and the arrogant superstar Lexis King.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Cappellazzo could be domineering.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
-
His Victor is the product of a coddling mother (Mia Goth), who dies young and leaves him emotionally adrift, and a domineering father (Charles Dance), who molds him into a brilliant but heedless inventor.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Wise minds inside the Trump administration will hopefully choose to drop a suit first introduced during by a Biden administration reflexively disdainful of big.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Danielle Haim sings, more disdainful than saddened by the dissolution at the heart of the single.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The character, Olivia’s bossy butler, is one of the greatest parts in Shakespeare, and Dinklage delights in it.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
-
August begins with Mars’ debut in Libra, energizing your bossy 10th house of authority, career and reputation in the world, prompting you to focus on your professional life and public image, which leaves little time for romance.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share