talk down (to)

as in to lord (it over)
to assume or treat with an air of superiority just because I don't have extensive experience in the field is no reason to talk down to me as if I were a child

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for talk down (to)
Verb
  • From metro Detroit to Kalamazoo, the Flint area and beyond, there are dozens of local cider mills to patronize this season.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Liam, the brother who clearly wanted this reunion the most, and wore the inability to re-consummate the brotherly relationship like an open wound, is still given mostly to jokes on stage more than serious statements or anything that patronizes the audience.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Others have cut bills by a factor of five.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Jobless claims hit their highest level since 2021 last week, adding to recent labor market revisions that have fueled confidence the Fed will cut rates in September.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
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.

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“Talk down (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talk%20down%20%28to%29. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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