talk down (to)

Definition of talk down (to)next
as in to lord (it over)
to assume or treat with an air of superiority just because I don't have extensive experience in the field is no reason to talk down to me as if I were a child

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for talk down (to)
Verb
  • Lee and his Burning co-writer Oh Jung-mi resist what might have been the first instinct of many filmmakers by refusing to make Ye-ji and Sang-woo overly patronizing rich jerks.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Steinem set out to expose the working conditions and interior lives of the bunnies slinging booze to the playboys who patronized the club.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • North Carolina Democrats in the state’s House of Representatives cut all ties with one of their candidates running for the state legislature after her past social media posts about violence against Republicans came to light.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Krohn put in new sprinklers and fire-safety systems after his last renters moved out a few years ago, then cut a hole between the second and third floors, allowing more light and air to filter through what is now a unified owner’s duplex.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Talk down (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talk%20down%20%28to%29. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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