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
Relevance
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
as in condescending
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of patronize
Trish Deitch, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025
Don’t patronize the big cruise ships.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Verb
June did not wither when patronized by Lawrence, though, and as the friendship between Moss and Whitford deepened, so did the relationship between the handmaid and the commander, which was being written as the show went along.
—Trish Deitch, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025
Don’t patronize the big cruise ships.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronize
Adjective
-
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
-
But that’s a pretty mean and condescending way to give constructive criticism.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The trial had revealed Blue Cross’ domineering behavior.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
12 Apr. 2025
-
As mild-mannered schoolteacher Mr. Lisbon, James Woods plays a quiet counterpoint to his domineering wife.—
Sezin Devi Koehler,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And with more ad dollars moving to streaming and digital — arenas in which the TV networks are less dominant — the networks seem weaker, particularly as Amazon and Netflix join them as part of the upfront calendar.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
11 May 2025
-
Like every successful side in these early years of the World Cup, Uruguay 1950 had an outstanding centre-half in Varela, who was physically dominant and also a key attacking weapon.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
“Patronize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronize. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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