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
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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
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Recent Examples of condescending
Mark Travers, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
Indeed, at a welcoming dinner in Harrison’s mansion, Erzsébet swiftly puts the condescending and clueless guests away with her words, delivered with strength, dignity and sneaky bemusement.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
That loathsome, condescending, low-brow slur would apparently include the 74 million people who voted for Trump in 2020, a record only Biden himself has bettered on his way to being maybe the worst president ever.
—Jay Ambrose, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2024
Both projects share a similar eye for the grotesquerie of the banal, with a generally condescending perspective toward rural desperation.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Verb
This dynamic often arises when one partner unintentionally infantilizes the other, through actions like making decisions on their behalf, questioning their abilities or even adopting a condescending tone during conversations.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
Indeed, at a welcoming dinner in Harrison’s mansion, Erzsébet swiftly puts the condescending and clueless guests away with her words, delivered with strength, dignity and sneaky bemusement.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
That loathsome, condescending, low-brow slur would apparently include the 74 million people who voted for Trump in 2020, a record only Biden himself has bettered on his way to being maybe the worst president ever.
—Jay Ambrose, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2024
Both projects share a similar eye for the grotesquerie of the banal, with a generally condescending perspective toward rural desperation.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condescending
Adjective
-
There’s just something about it that’s very patronizing.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
29 May 2025
-
There's just something about it that's very patronizing.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
As the day goes on, Jim goes from a caricature of an arrogant male director to an oddly compelling picture of a pathetic man, moved by spite toward his ex-wife, Anita.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 July 2025
-
Actor Tyler Hilton played Chris Keller, a charming but arrogant musician, on four seasons of the teen soap.—
Bryan West,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Louise Fletcher portrays the domineering head nurse Ratched.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
6 July 2025
-
But Agnes can’t stop barking orders, leaving the household staff at a loss over who to listen to — their domineering former boss or the woman signing their paychecks.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
Trump has even been disdainful or dismissive of the United States’ traditional allies, such as Mexico and Argentina.—
Christopher Sabatini,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Nov. 2017
-
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
Adjective
-
Moreover, some toddlers can also be quite bossy and demand that pretend play reaches their standards of entertainment and originality, instructing parents on the intricacies of the backstory and dialogue.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
2 July 2025
-
Giving a clear direction is different than being bossy!—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
The show perpetuates corporate media’s retaliation against those who oppose its leftist, Marxist, Communist, socialist agenda — the ideological myth favored by superficial and supercilious showbiz types ever since All the President’s Men and Network.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Arthur is … a lot too, but with a supercilious edge?—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 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
-
One chord appears to speak to the other, sounding almost impudent in their simplicity, equal parts ecstatic and heartbreakingly melancholic.—
Sam Davies,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Baszler was a dominant, two-time NXT Women's Champion who held the title for a combined 549 days.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
-
Vaez says Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — a dominant, multipronged military force — may see this as an opportunity for change.—
Jackie Northam,
NPR,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Condescending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condescending. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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