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
-
Staff are well-trained and proactive without being patronizing, and the hotel’s smaller scale makes navigation easy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026 -
As that reopening date nears, some longtime residents have waxed nostalgic over its legacy as a beacon of entertainment in a community that was barred from patronizing other theaters in North Texas.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Talking down (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking%20down%20%28to%29. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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