Synonyms of patronize

patronize 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈpā-trə-ˌnīz 

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

• condescend
• lord (it over)
• cut
• talk down (to)
• slight
• queen (it over)
• snub
• cold-shoulder
• high-hat

2

as in to endorse

to promote the interests or cause of

a company that loyally patronizes the arts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• endorse
• advocate
• support
• adopt
• embrace
• help
• champion
• back
• assist
• stand up for
• go in for
• aid
• stick up for
• plunk (for)
• hold a brief for
• reinforce
• plump (for)
• plonk (for)
• go to bat for
• preach
• espouse
• save
• abet
• bolster
• forward
• rescue
• further
• buttress
• second
• side (with)
• prop (up)
• advance
• boost
• bail out
• backstop
• plug
• talk up
• deliver

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• oppose
• interfere
• thwart
• frustrate
• sabotage
• fail
• disappoint
• let down
• desert
• baffle
• foil

patronizing

2 of 3

adjective

as in condescending

Related Words

• condescending
• domineering
• dominant
• disdainful
• arrogant
• bossy
• impudent
• authoritarian
• supercilious
• dominating
• pretentious
• uppity
• pontifical
• magisterial
• snooty
• assumptive
• snobbish
• bumptious
• saucy
• haughty
• sniffy
• snobby
• high-and-mighty
• cavalier
• high-handed
• impertinent
• pontificating
• pompous
• uppish
• bombastic
• presumptuous
• boastful
• huffy
• chesty
• swaggering
• conceited
• cocky
• smug
• superior
• high-hat
• narcissistic
• egocentric
• important
• vainglorious
• lordly
• blusterous
• imperious
• blustery
• presuming
• peremptory
• hubristic
• huffish
• overweening
• bragging
• complacent
• highfalutin
• vain
• egotistic
• self-assertive
• masterful
• braggy
• toplofty
• self-centered
• self-asserting
• egoistic
• stuck-up
• braggart
• lofty
• self-satisfied
• prideful
• uninhibited
• stiff-necked
• self-promoting
• self-complacent
• proud
• self-conceited
• immodest
• self-applauding
• self-affected
• unreserved
• self-pleased
• self-flattering
• self-loving
• extroverted
• brash
• orgulous
• forward

Dissimilar Words

• humble
• modest
• unpretentious
• lowly
• timid
• sheepish
• bashful
• subdued
• shy
• shrinking
• passive
• diffident
• introverted
• deferential
• demure
• submissive
• acquiescent
• meek
• unobtrusive
• mousy
• unassuming
• compliant
• yielding
• unarrogant
• unassertive
• cringing
• unaggressive
• quiet
• retiring
• self-critical
• cowering
• self-doubting
• reserved
• overmodest

patronizing

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of patronize

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

• condescending
• cutting
• talking down (to)
• lording (it over)
• snubbing
• slighting
• cold-shouldering
• high-hatting
• queening (it over)

2

as in endorsing

to promote the interests or cause of

a company that loyally patronizes the arts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• endorsing
• advocating
• supporting
• adopting
• embracing
• championing
• backing
• helping
• assisting
• reinforcing
• aiding
• going in for
• standing up for
• holding a brief for
• preaching
• plumping (for)
• sticking up for
• plonking (for)
• plunking (for)
• abetting
• going to bat for
• saving
• espousing
• bolstering
• forwarding
• furthering
• buttressing
• rescuing
• seconding
• siding (with)
• propping (up)
• boosting
• advancing
• backstopping
• plugging
• delivering
• bailing out
• talking up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• opposing
• interfering
• frustrating
• thwarting
• sabotaging
• baffling
• disappointing
• failing
• deserting
• foiling
• letting down

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of patronize

Verb

The speech was made at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a monastery that Mazepa patronized. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026

The altercation occurred outside of a parking garage near Doggie’s, a State College bar that, according to police documents, McKenna had patronized with a group earlier that night. — Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Adjective

Seidi Haarla is compelling as a woman at her wits’ end, running on fumes, but special mention must go to grown-up Harry Potter star Grint as the patronizing Jon. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026

Used in a patronizing context toward a rule follower, this trend is usually used to mock rather than compliment. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 4 Dec. 2025

Verb

Trade school is often talked about as an alternative to a four-year degree, but the discourse can be patronizing, with jobs in construction framed as an off-ramp for the kids who can’t cut it in real college. — Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 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