as in lording (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
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for talking down (to)
patronizing
Verb
-
Shop In Uptown Put your plastic to good use by patronizing Uptown’s lovely community of small businesses.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
1 Sep. 2025 -
All were charged with patronizing prositution while eight people were charged with solicitaion of a minor.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Aug. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Talking down (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking%20down%20%28to%29. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share