patronizing
adjective
pa·tron·iz·ing
ˈpā-trə-ˌnī-ziŋ 
ˈpa-
: showing or characterized by a superior attitude towards others : marked by condescension
patronizing comments
No more endearing is his patronizing jocularity …—
Marilyn Stasio
Marilyn StasioThey say that by continuing to focus solely on the winners, historians have been as patronizing to their subjects as the colonialists themselves.—Ethan Bronner
Ethan Bronner… without being patronizing, she helps her Maasai friends with everything from land disputes to school problems.—The New Yorker
The New Yorker
patronizingly
ˈpā-trə-ˌnī-ziŋ-lē
adverb
ˈpa-
Throughout the evening, we've watched Stein alternate between patronizingly taking the students to task for their ignorance and spinning hilariously self-serving tales about his own accomplishments and famous friends.
—Elisabeth Vincentelli
Elisabeth Vincentelli
patronizingness
noun
… behaved with an uncertain mixture of sympathy, patronizingness and control.
—Anna Grimshaw
Anna Grimshaw
Examples of patronizing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Exhausted and piqued after overhearing a patronizing conversation about David, Ester leaves in the caravan, taking her son on an impromptu drive, during which they are joined by livewire free spirit Zuza (Juliana Brutovska).
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 24 May 2025
There is a pathetic patronizing attempt to walk the misogynistic message back with the reassurance that of course the Tribune Editorial Board supports any choice a person makes about childbirth.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
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Catherine Bray, Variety, 24 May 2025
There is a pathetic patronizing attempt to walk the misogynistic message back with the reassurance that of course the Tribune Editorial Board supports any choice a person makes about childbirth.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for patronizing
Cite this Entry
“Patronizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patronizing. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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