condescension
noun
con·de·scen·sion
ˌkän-di-ˈsen(t)-shən 
1
: patronizing attitude or behavior
scoffing condescension by the "we know better than you" people—
A. J. Anderson
A. J. Anderson2
: voluntary descent from one's rank or dignity in relations with an inferior
Examples of condescension in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Iris’ instincts are right on the nose: Everyone treats her with a pleasant but unnerving condescension.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025
You and your drinking and your wallowing and your endless crippling condescension.
—Ayad Akhtar, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024
In his 1978 State of the Union address, Carter subtly channeled their condescension.
—Harry Boyte and Trygve Throntveit, TIME, 4 Jan. 2025
That’s neither condescension nor criticism: George Lucas created a swashbuckling fairy tale set in space, and its mantle has been taken up by successive generations of filmmakers who encountered it at a formative age.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for condescension 
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.
Tom Gliatto, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025
You and your drinking and your wallowing and your endless crippling condescension.
—Ayad Akhtar, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024
In his 1978 State of the Union address, Carter subtly channeled their condescension.
—Harry Boyte and Trygve Throntveit, TIME, 4 Jan. 2025
That’s neither condescension nor criticism: George Lucas created a swashbuckling fairy tale set in space, and its mantle has been taken up by successive generations of filmmakers who encountered it at a formative age.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for condescension
Dictionary Entries Near condescension
Cite this Entry
“Condescension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condescension. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
condescension
noun
con·de·scen·sion
ˌkän-di-ˈsen-chən
: the attitude or behavior of a person who condescends
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share