1
as in to condescend
to assume or treat with an air of superiority
a director with an unpleasant habit of patronizing even his most gifted actors
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to endorse
to promote the interests or cause of
a company that loyally patronizes the arts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of patronize
In Minneapolis, meat raffles are held each Friday night in the 1029 Bar, a spot often patronized by police officers.
—
ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Biddle’s letter joined a groundswell of support from citizens ranging from unemployed artists to Roosevelt’s own advisers, encouraging the US government to similarly patronize the arts for public benefit.
—John P. Murphy, ARTnews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
But ultimately, there’s nothing more appealing than a straight guy who can genuinely queen out about the important things in life (the aforementioned celeb goss, duh) without zoning out or seeming patronizing.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2026
They are patronized by families on their third and fourth generations.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronize
ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Biddle’s letter joined a groundswell of support from citizens ranging from unemployed artists to Roosevelt’s own advisers, encouraging the US government to similarly patronize the arts for public benefit.
—John P. Murphy, ARTnews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
But ultimately, there’s nothing more appealing than a straight guy who can genuinely queen out about the important things in life (the aforementioned celeb goss, duh) without zoning out or seeming patronizing.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2026
They are patronized by families on their third and fourth generations.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronize
Verb
-
Our tone of voice is conversational, not condescending.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
26 May 2026
-
Ross described strict rules and constant shouting from guards and condescending treatment at the detention facility in Louisiana.—
Jade le Deley,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Crosby, a deputy city attorney endorsed by the county Democratic Party, had sent mailers contending Bailey’s promises to reduce city spending would slash funding for parks, libraries and homeless shelters.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
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Last month, in the final stretch of the race to replace her, Pelosi endorsed Connie Chan, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and a candidate who had until then struggled to gain traction.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
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With multiple lawsuits and an impending Supreme Court ruling poised to shape TPS nationwide, advocates hail the Lebanese extension but warn that hundreds of thousands still lack a permanent solution.—
Gisela Salomon,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
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Even as a non-member, I’ve been actively engaged in advocating for our community, pushing for stronger mitigation for small businesses, better communication with residents, and a more balanced approach that considers both the importance of transportation and resident needs.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The shortstop also rocketed a 441-foot, two-run home run off Giants right-hander Keaton Winn in the eighth to cut San Francisco’s lead to 4-3.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
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Based on 2026 opening day figures, eight teams would have to cut payroll to get under the cap.—
Ronald Blum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
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But among recent high-profile moves, Alibaba reportedly hired Google DeepMind researcher Hao Zhou to support Qwen AI development.—
Evelyn Cheng,Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
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More than a dozen Republicans supported it.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patronize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronize. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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