as in condescending
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in cutting
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
2
as in endorsing
to promote the interests or cause of
a company that loyally patronizes the arts
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of patronizing
Stéphanie Giry, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2015
Being cut out of a Malick movie is nothing new, but even in a small role, Clooney is effective as a commanding officer who gives a patronizing speech near the end of The Thin Red Line after our main characters have gone through hell yet again.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
Responses on social media suggested , with many considering his remarks to be disrespectful and patronizing.
—Theo Burman, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
He’s less immediately impressed by her, which feels more realistic and less patronizing.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Adjective
And in its attempt to leverage something that wasn’t entirely its to claim, at times the CNRP betrayed a view of the masses that was not only instrumentalist and patronizing but also almost feudal in its assumptions about the relationship between people and power.
—Stéphanie Giry, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2015
Being cut out of a Malick movie is nothing new, but even in a small role, Clooney is effective as a commanding officer who gives a patronizing speech near the end of The Thin Red Line after our main characters have gone through hell yet again.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
Responses on social media suggested , with many considering his remarks to be disrespectful and patronizing.
—Theo Burman, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
He’s less immediately impressed by her, which feels more realistic and less patronizing.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronizing
Adjective
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While a condescending Texan harps about the beach’s current conditions— promising a stern meeting with Borowka in between droughts of a local lager—Douglas tells his story.—
Joe Sills,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
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But that’s a pretty mean and condescending way to give constructive criticism.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Weighing The Risks And Rewards Companies need to weigh the benefits and downsides of endorsing political nominees and appointees.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
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Manhattan Democratic Party boss Keith Wright is endorsing Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan’s 2025 bid for city comptroller, dealing a blow to Mark Levine, Manhattan’s borough president who’s running against Brannan.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As mild-mannered schoolteacher Mr. Lisbon, James Woods plays a quiet counterpoint to his domineering wife.—
Sezin Devi Koehler,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Among them towers the frighteningly domineering Honoria Glossop.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Think of it as advocating for yourself, not showing off.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
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But many high-profile people who have worked with Majors are advocating for him.—
Rebecca Keegan,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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From being drafted in the first round to somehow exceeding those expectations, Smith and Martin represented something much bigger than their dominant play on the field.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2025
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Once the dominant chipmaker in the U.S., Intel has faced numerous challenges in recent years, losing ground to players like Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm and Apple.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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If your current job in comms is growing stale, consider pivoting to supporting an organization fighting climate change.—
Aliza Knox,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
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The top priority for now is identifying the victims, supporting their families and treating the two survivors, Choi told a disaster management meeting in Seoul.—
Ju-min Park and Hongji Kim,
USA TODAY,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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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
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Now, with Donald J. Trump installed in the White House, Mr. Zelensky is facing a new challenge: maintaining good relations with the country’s most critical ally and a president who has been disdainful toward him and skeptical of military aid.—
Andrew E. Kramer,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Patronizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronizing. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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