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
Relevance
2
as in endorsing
to promote the interests or cause of
a company that loyally patronizes the arts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in condescending
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of patronizing
Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2025
If your partner takes a patronizing tone or talks down to you, even while making a reasonable request, take note, Jackson said.
—Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025
Kate seems a bit more reluctant to play along this time, in part because Laurie’s comments about Jaclyn are more overtly critical than the patronizing tone of the earlier scene.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2025
The same is true of the inconsistent — and patronizing — use of translation.
—Samuel Ashworth, Washington Post, 24 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Verb
And all the polite cheeriness about singlehood—especially from partnered people, in a society still designed for couples—can feel disingenuous and patronizing.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2025
If your partner takes a patronizing tone or talks down to you, even while making a reasonable request, take note, Jackson said.
—Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025
Kate seems a bit more reluctant to play along this time, in part because Laurie’s comments about Jaclyn are more overtly critical than the patronizing tone of the earlier scene.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2025
The same is true of the inconsistent — and patronizing — use of translation.
—Samuel Ashworth, Washington Post, 24 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronizing
Verb
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Weighing The Risks And Rewards Companies need to weigh the benefits and downsides of endorsing political nominees and appointees.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
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Manhattan Democratic Party boss Keith Wright is endorsing Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan’s 2025 bid for city comptroller, dealing a blow to Mark Levine, Manhattan’s borough president who’s running against Brannan.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Auchincloss, a Marine veteran, is viewed as more moderate than Markey and recently joined a group of up-and-coming Democrats trying to force the party to move away from its condescending stances on many issues, which have turned off voters.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
19 July 2025
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American intervention in Latin America has often been premised on the condescending notion that the U.S. is a forbearing parent, the stable democracy tasked with maintaining order in its hemisphere.—
Carolina A. Miranda,
The Atlantic,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Understanding this is about advocating for yourself and ensuring your contributions are seen and valued.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
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Arab nations have voiced strong opposition, advocating instead for a multibillion-dollar reconstruction plan to allow Palestinians to remain in Gaza.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Louise Fletcher portrays the domineering head nurse Ratched.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
6 July 2025
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But Agnes can’t stop barking orders, leaving the household staff at a loss over who to listen to — their domineering former boss or the woman signing their paychecks.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
23 June 2025
Verb
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If your current job in comms is growing stale, consider pivoting to supporting an organization fighting climate change.—
Aliza Knox,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
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The top priority for now is identifying the victims, supporting their families and treating the two survivors, Choi told a disaster management meeting in Seoul.—
Ju-min Park and Hongji Kim,
USA TODAY,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The surprise deal will see Sky becoming New Zealand’s dominant TV media player by acquiring 100% of the shares in Discovery NZ from Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, a subsidiary of WBD, on a cash-free, debt-free basis.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
22 July 2025
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The hope is that Brown finds the magic elixir that allows the Knicks to thrive with a dominant offense that highlights the best traits of Towns at center.—
Tom Rende,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Trump has even been disdainful or dismissive of the United States’ traditional allies, such as Mexico and Argentina.—
Christopher Sabatini,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Nov. 2017
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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
Cite this Entry
“Patronizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronizing. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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