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
Despite the recent boom in homeschooling—and the rapid growth of voucher systems, which provide public dollars for private schools—most Americans continue to patronize their local public schools.
—
Jonathan Zimmerman, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, people on both sides of the divide say Weiss and her senior leaders have brought a newspaper journalist’s sometimes patronizing attitude to television broadcasting.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
In Facebook posts responding to the fire, residents encouraged each other to patronize the second restaurant to support the family.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 12 Dec. 2025
So, the Miami Herald compiled a sampling of small Black businesses to consider patronizing for the holiday season.
—Miami Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Jonathan Zimmerman, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, people on both sides of the divide say Weiss and her senior leaders have brought a newspaper journalist’s sometimes patronizing attitude to television broadcasting.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
In Facebook posts responding to the fire, residents encouraged each other to patronize the second restaurant to support the family.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 12 Dec. 2025
So, the Miami Herald compiled a sampling of small Black businesses to consider patronizing for the holiday season.
—Miami Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronize
Verb
-
Susannah Fullerton on the French Writer’s Feline Muses La Chatte condescended to live with Colette (Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette), born in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, France, in 1873, died in Paris, 1954, novelist, actress and journalist.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
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Wendy is condescending, and even in their back and forth displayed all of the dismissive and snide psychoanalysis that Angel was alleging, but her inability to land zingers is always going to leave her on her back foot.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Surely, these federal workers endorse truth, justice and the American way of ignoring traffic laws.—
Glae Thien,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Many use-of-force policies adopted by police departments endorse that principle.—
Ben Jones,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Local residents have advocated for a more permanent solution to the violent elephant encounters, and for the families of the deceased to be compensated.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
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The Department of Angels is a nonprofit organization that advocates for wildfire survivors.—
Jasmine Viel,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Carolina cut the lead 17-14 at halftime after a 1-yard touchdown run by Hubbard and a 16-yard scramble by Young, the second-longest TD run of his career.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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This same staff cut him to make room for a waiver-wire claim before the start of the 2024 season.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Navy's website says the Essex is equipped to transport and support a Marine Corps landing force of over 2,000 troops during an air and amphibious assault.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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Rabbi Perry Nussbaum, the congregation’s leader from the 1950s to the 70s, supported civil rights activists and helped found an interracial group of clergy to help rebuild Black churches attacked by white supremacists, according to the institute.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patronize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronize. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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