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patronize

[pey-truh-nahyz, pa‑] / ˈpeɪ trəˌnaɪz, ˈpæ‑ /


VERB
do business at an establishment
Synonyms
Antonyms
WEAK
antagonize be humble be modest contend ignore oppose use competition


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Who would patronize these houses of financial ill-repute?

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Woolf could patronize American writing in 1919 in part because the U.S. still seemed provincial.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

There’s a subsection of A-Listers in L.A. — true film nerds — who attend AMC showings frequently but also patronize local independent theaters.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2025

I’ve been thinking about the nightclubs our community used to frequent and the ones we patronize now.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2025

“Don’t patronize me,” he said, still grinning as he took the turn toward her house.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith




Vocabulary lists containing patronize


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