1
as in to condescend
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 to endorse
to promote the interests or cause of
a company that loyally patronizes the arts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in condescending
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
2
as in endorsing
to promote the interests or cause of
a company that loyally patronizes the arts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 patronize
Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2025
Contrary to criticism that Galentine's Day patronizes single women, the festivity is meant to be about empowerment and uplifting one another.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025
Stéphanie Giry, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2015
Being cut out of a Malick movie is nothing new, but even in a small role, Clooney is effective as a commanding officer who gives a patronizing speech near the end of The Thin Red Line after our main characters have gone through hell yet again.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Verb
The neighborhood was also heavily impacted by Attucks’ downgrade from a high school to a middle school in 1968 because high school students would patronize many local businesses, George said.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2025
Contrary to criticism that Galentine's Day patronizes single women, the festivity is meant to be about empowerment and uplifting one another.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
And in its attempt to leverage something that wasn’t entirely its to claim, at times the CNRP betrayed a view of the masses that was not only instrumentalist and patronizing but also almost feudal in its assumptions about the relationship between people and power.
—Stéphanie Giry, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2015
Being cut out of a Malick movie is nothing new, but even in a small role, Clooney is effective as a commanding officer who gives a patronizing speech near the end of The Thin Red Line after our main characters have gone through hell yet again.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for patronize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronize
Adjective
-
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
Adjective
-
Carrie is described as a reimagining of the story of misfit high-schooler Carrie White, who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Perhaps most frustrating to Mainers: the domineering influence of Boston in the state’s government.—
Made by History,
Time,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Once the dominant chipmaker in the U.S., Intel has faced numerous challenges in recent years, losing ground to players like Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm and Apple.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2025
-
From being drafted in the first round to somehow exceeding those expectations, Smith and Martin represented something much bigger than their dominant play on the field.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Most Democrats and independents — 82% and 54%, respectively — said Trump was disdainful to Zelenskyy, while just 19% of Republicans thought the same.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Danielle Haim sings, more disdainful than saddened by the dissolution at the heart of the single.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Patronize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronize. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share