1
as in stooping
to descend to a level that is beneath one's dignity
I will not condescend to answer the sore loser's charge that I cheated in order to win the race
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cutting
to assume or treat with an air of superiority
wealthy people who tend to be condescending toward their poor relations
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in patronizing
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 condescending
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
But that’s a pretty mean and condescending way to give constructive criticism.
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025
Trump was behind Sewell, looking on with a condescending smirk, as if to say, Get a load of this guy!
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Verb
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
But that’s a pretty mean and condescending way to give constructive criticism.
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025
Trump was behind Sewell, looking on with a condescending smirk, as if to say, Get a load of this guy!
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescending
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condescending
Adjective
-
There’s just something about it that’s very patronizing.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
29 May 2025
-
There's just something about it that's very patronizing.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
Depicting Americans as arrogant, loud, boorish and demeaning of other cultures, the term has stuck and is still mentioned 60-plus years later.—
Jenny Peters,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The most radical overhaul of the tax code in our state’s history would require voter approval in November 2026, and that starts by portraying local governments as cartoonishly arrogant, bloated and unaccountable.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
Avoid being domineering, but also avoid being stepped on by someone else.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 July 2025
-
My Mom Died is a heartbreaking and hilarious recounting of McCurdy’s struggles as a former child actor while dealing with her overbearing, domineering mother.—
Charley Ross,
Glamour,
2 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
Adjective
-
August begins with Mars’ debut in Libra, energizing your bossy 10th house of authority, career and reputation in the world, prompting you to focus on your professional life and public image, which leaves little time for romance.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Moreover, some toddlers can also be quite bossy and demand that pretend play reaches their standards of entertainment and originality, instructing parents on the intricacies of the backstory and dialogue.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Economics, that supercilious, take-me-seriously profession?—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
-
The show perpetuates corporate media’s retaliation against those who oppose its leftist, Marxist, Communist, socialist agenda — the ideological myth favored by superficial and supercilious showbiz types ever since All the President’s Men and Network.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Gemma reluctantly agrees to rebuild her impudent robot in a new body, and the sequel ends with an explosive showdown between Amelia and M3GAN, who nearly dies in a noble attempt to save Gemma and her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw).—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 June 2025
-
One chord appears to speak to the other, sounding almost impudent in their simplicity, equal parts ecstatic and heartbreakingly melancholic.—
Sam Davies,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Here is what to keep an eye out for as the Premier League makes its return. Champions at a canter last time out, Liverpool have embarked on the kind of spending spree the most dominant teams in the Premier League seldom indulge in.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Overall, the Steelers defense has often been dominant against the first-team offense in camp.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Condescending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condescending. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share