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
Staff are well-trained and proactive without being patronizing, and the hotel’s smaller scale makes navigation easy.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
As that reopening date nears, some longtime residents have waxed nostalgic over its legacy as a beacon of entertainment in a community that was barred from patronizing other theaters in North Texas.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026
According to a press release, more than 82 million passengers patronized Denver's airport.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
By the turn of the 21st century, ordinary Iranians were patronizing internet cafés—Tehran alone had about 1,500 by 2001—and meeting in online chat rooms.
—Nahid Siamdoust, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
As that reopening date nears, some longtime residents have waxed nostalgic over its legacy as a beacon of entertainment in a community that was barred from patronizing other theaters in North Texas.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026
According to a press release, more than 82 million passengers patronized Denver's airport.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
By the turn of the 21st century, ordinary Iranians were patronizing internet cafés—Tehran alone had about 1,500 by 2001—and meeting in online chat rooms.
—Nahid Siamdoust, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronize
Verb
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Being condescending, far from being a virtue, is universally acknowledged as a vice.—
Timothy J. Pawl,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2026
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But Herzog never judges or condescends to Treadwell, even if his involvement in documenting the fallout becomes increasingly complicated.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Trump has endorsed a GOP primary challenger to Massie, Ed Gallrein.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
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Fuentes has offered Fishback’s more positive poll results as proof of the strength of his own following, the Groypers, while declining to endorse him in an effort to stanch the candidate’s toxicity.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Park managers advocate aggressive intervention through planting and thinning, while some ecologists contend the forest’s natural recovery should be left alone.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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He’s successfully advocated for creating new incentives for affordable housing construction and automatically renewing a program that freezes property values for some seniors, heading off big bill spikes from rising property values.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even as Michigan State came roaring back in the second half, cutting the lead to just two in the final minute, UCLA never flinched.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
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Orangefield cut the lead to 8 points a couple of times late in the game, but Cobb made 5 of 6 free throws in the final 46 seconds to keep the Bobcats at bay.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hughes has more than 25 years of experience, including leadership roles, with the YMCA and has focused on supporting health and youth innovations, a museum news release said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
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France earlier said six soldiers had been hurt in a drone strike in Irbil, where French troops are deployed as part of a multinational counterterrorism mission supporting Iraqi forces in their fight against Islamic State militants.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patronize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronize. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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