condescend

verb

con·​de·​scend ˌkän-di-ˈsend 

condescended; condescending; condescends

intransitive verb

1

: to assume an air of superiority

The writer treats her readers as equals and never condescends to them.

2

a

: to descend to a less formal or dignified level : unbend

would not condescend to respond to such a crass remark

b

: to waive the privileges of rank

Did you know?

What is the difference between condescending and patronizing?

Very few words in English have exactly the same meaning; even words which appear to be entirely synonymous often will be found to have small differences in certain contexts. The words condescending and patronizing present a fine example of this. At first glance these words appear to be defined somewhat circularly: condescending often has the word "patronizing" in its definition, and patronize is defined, in part, as “to adopt an air of condescension toward.”

But both of these words have specialized senses that lend a shade of meaning to their synonymous senses. Patronizing can mean "giving support to" or "being a customer of," suggesting that the "condescending" sense implies superiority gained through a donor-dependent relationship.

The verb condescend used to be free of any hint of the offensive superiority it usually suggests today. It could mean literally "to go or come down" or, figuratively, "to willingly lower oneself to another’s level," senses that are still occasionally encountered in writings on the Bible. The idea of self-consciously lowering oneself is implied in the "patronizing" sense of condescending.

Synonyms

• deign
• stoop

Examples of condescend in a Sentence

I will not condescend to answer the sore loser's charge that I cheated in order to win the race.

wealthy people who tend to be condescending toward their poor relations

Recent Examples on the Web

Things aren’t much better with his condescending wife Susan (Aisling Bea), who walks all over him and then uses their couples’ therapy sessions to urge him to be even less confrontational. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2024

This sounds condescending or suggests that the leader is unsure of their own communication skills. —Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

This was Deposition Deion, a cornered and condescending man, the perennial victim who ain’t got time for mere mortals. —Sean Keeler, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Aug. 2024

Nonetheless, his refusal to grant them free voices renders his very exaltation condescending. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French condescendre, from Late Latin condescendere, from Latin com- + descendere to descend

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Kids Definition

condescend

verb

con·​de·​scend ˌkän-di-ˈsend 

1

: to lower oneself to a level considered less dignified or humbler than one's own

2

: to act in a way that suggests that one considers oneself better than other people

condescendingly

-ˈsen-diŋ-lē

adverb