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Definitions

patronizing

[pey-truh-nahy-zing, pa-] / ˈpeɪ trəˌnaɪ zɪŋ, ˈpæ- /
ADJECTIVE
condescending
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONGEST
humble unconceited


NOUN
condescension
Synonyms
Antonyms


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.

See Examples For:

Travel is great, and I love patronizing restaurants opened by immigrant chefs who send enticing smells and savory dishes out of their kitchens.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 17, 2026

You can empathize with your friend without demonizing your own position or patronizing her by saying everything will be OK.

From MarketWatch Mar. 2, 2026

Also, a 2021 study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research documented hostile environments in economics seminars, with female presenters experiencing more interruptions and encountering more patronizing behavior.

From Salon Feb. 28, 2026

There was nothing patronizing about how Casa Bonita depicted Mexicans — no garish gifts, no mock Spanish.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 23, 2025

She gives me a patronizing look, the way people sometimes look at children when they act too adult, and snatches the flag from the branch.

From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth




Vocabulary lists containing patronizing


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