as in condescending
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Dissimilar Words
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
2
as in endorsing
to promote the interests or cause of
a company that loyally patronizes the arts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of patronizing
Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Engelbert has received a ton of backlash recently after the commissioner allegedly made dismissive and patronizing remarks about player concerns.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
Adia Harvey Wingfield, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Adjective
Fear-mongering, which comes off equal parts paranoid and patronizing, is the surest way to make people stop listening.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Engelbert has received a ton of backlash recently after the commissioner allegedly made dismissive and patronizing remarks about player concerns.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
Fast food chains may require workers to make diners feel valued and welcome, and certainly many customers see merit in patronizing an establishment where service comes with a smile.
—Adia Harvey Wingfield, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronizing
Adjective
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And the motivational quotes on the walls are so condescending.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
23 Feb. 2026
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Kudos to Tara for keeping her composure as Whelan offers this condescending remark about Libya.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The fear, Webster said, can make young athletes avoid sport-specific movements like cutting or jumping even after physical clearance.—
Ian McMahan,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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That could mean Mediterranean, Paleo, cutting ultraprocessed foods or another structured approach.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Georgia Flowers-Lee, a vice president with United Teachers Los Angeles, said Mazariegos discussed his gun conviction and the circumstances surrounding it during his interviews with the union, which ended up endorsing him.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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In New Mexico, a jury in Santa Fe arrived at the $375 million fine against Meta by endorsing the maximum penalty of $5,000 per violation of state consumer protection law — multiplied by thousands of social media accounts for children under 18.—
Morgan Lee,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But another, on a purely narrative level, is how the Wiggin sisters were driven by a domineering dad, Austin Wiggin, as much as the Wilson brothers were by the infamous Murray Wilson, as Pat Thomas notes in the movie (also bringing up Joe Jackson as an even scarier reference).—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
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Adam McKay’s toxically smug dissection of Dick Cheney fails to take the full measure of this monstrous vice-president, but even so, Bale taps into something elemental about the man’s arrogance and domineering personality.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Wolf, who serves as president of AFGE TSA Local 1127, is hesitant to walk away from both the job that turned her life around and her role advocating for fellow officers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Mar. 2026
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Now, Nathan Willett, who represents District 1 on the Kansas City Council, is advocating for more women-only restrooms in the airport.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Heat’s defense was especially dominant at the start, limiting the Cavaliers to just 19 points in the first quarter.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
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Netflix does a lot of things exceedingly well, hence its dominant position in the marketplace, but the tech company and industry disruptor doesn’t really do tradition.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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It’s made with 96% snail secretion filtrate, a humectant-rich ingredient known for calming irritation, fading post-acne marks, and supporting skin repair.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Mar. 2026
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The As Ever founder stepped out for a surprise Paris Fashion Week appearance, supporting her friend Pierpaolo Piccioli at his Balenciaga debut swathed in a dramatic white cape.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Yet whenever Bunny turns away from Frank to take a call from one of his underlings about the day-to-day violence and ugliness of their industry, a somewhat disdainful look passes across Frank’s face.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
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Godchaux was a divisive figure among Grateful Dead devotees — many fans were frankly outright disdainful of her presence on stage.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Patronizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronizing. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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