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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
While a condescending Texan harps about the beach’s current conditions— promising a stern meeting with Borowka in between droughts of a local lager—Douglas tells his story.—
Joe Sills,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Students and faculty who participated in last year’s protests at Columbia have insisted that criticizing Israel and advocating for Palestinian rights isn’t antisemitic.—
Larry Neumeister,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2025
-
In fact, Kim decided to study to become a lawyer like her dad, passing the baby bar exam in 2021 and advocating for criminal justice reform over the years.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
My Mom Died is a heartbreaking and funny recounting of Jennette McCurdy’s struggles as a former child actor while dealing with her overbearing, domineering mother.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
1 July 2025
-
The end of season 2 turned the tables on the meek Ada and domineering Agnes when Agnes lost her fortune thanks to her son Oscar (Blake Ritson) trusting the wrong people.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
The design is intended to spur students to leave their rooms and connect with their fellow students, supporting physical and mental health.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
-
Carter asked Davis to come out of retirement—again—to help lead the process of enacting the speed limit into law and supporting its nationwide promotion.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Luke Combs, one of the country stars whose appeal has turned out to translate the most in parts of the world where the genre is not as dominant, will be getting the ACM International Award for his furthering of country music overseas.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 July 2025
-
Vaez says Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — a dominant, multipronged military force — may see this as an opportunity for change.—
Jackie Northam,
NPR,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share