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
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for talking down (to)
patronizing
Verb
-
Sure, Pittsburgh Trauma being a teaching hospital naturally lends to scenes of literal instruction, but too often the show pushes past procedural necessity into something distractingly pedantic, even patronizing.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026 -
Meanwhile, people on both sides of the divide say Weiss and her senior leaders have brought a newspaper journalist’s sometimes patronizing attitude to television broadcasting.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Dec. 2025
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“Talking down (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking%20down%20%28to%29. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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