PATRONIZING Synonyms: 186 Similar and Opposite Words

patronizing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of patronizing

as in condescending

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

patronizing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of patronize

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

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 patronizing

Adjective

Attempts have been so grand as to come off as wildly patronizing. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026 John’s patronizing, congratulatory tone with regard to Weisz’s character’s dalliance with Vlad doesn’t help. — Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026

Verb

Trade school is often talked about as an alternative to a four-year degree, but the discourse can be patronizing, with jobs in construction framed as an off-ramp for the kids who can’t cut it in real college. — Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026 But ultimately, there’s nothing more appealing than a straight guy who can genuinely queen out about the important things in life (the aforementioned celeb goss, duh) without zoning out or seeming patronizing. — Emma Specter, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patronizing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronizing

Adjective

Murdoch is thick-skinned and accustomed to being underestimated by the condescending Brits, who see him as a crass interloper.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Ahead of his team’s clash with Australia, Turkey captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu completely dismissed his opponent in a surprisingly honest and condescending assessment.

— Tom Bogert, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Definition of condescending

Verb

Furthermore, Bailey stated that simply not cutting rates already constitutes monetary policy tightening.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Enacting a solution is liable to be a significant political battle, likely involving cutting benefits for some Americans or raising taxes on higher earners, or both.

— Ashley Lopez, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of cutting

Verb

Candidates including Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer paid thousands of dollars to influencers who posted videos endorsing Steyer or talking about him in a positive light.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Trump has been weighing in heavily on the midterm races, frequently endorsing candidates who have stepped out of line from the MAGA agenda.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of endorsing

Adjective

Will stars in the film as Phil Weston, an unremarkable family man who grew up under the thumb of his domineering dad, Buck (Robert Duvall).

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
That’s a little too farcical for the moment, and the final cut lands more in a place of domineering intrigue.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026

Definition of domineering

Verb

Trump’s Truth Social post came after a meeting with actor Jon Voight, one of the president’s designated Hollywood ambassadors who has played a key role in lobbying for the film industry and advocating for a federal tax credit.

— Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Feminist writer and activist Gloria Steinem dedicated her life to advocating for women and girls.

— Terry Gross, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of advocating

Adjective

His once-dominant bat has gone quiet, leading to significant fan frustration, including boos at home games despite his excellent defense.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
At the time, Americans sipped one dominant style of beer, a light lager, sold by big breweries such as Coors and Anheuser-Busch.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of dominant

Verb

The Moon trines your ruler Mercury in your sign, supporting careful edits, useful explanations, and conversations that stay on track.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Sep. 2026
In a declaration supporting their complaint, Becker noted that California is mulling a bill, SB 813, that would establish a process where independent organizations would set baselines for AI safety standards.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of supporting

Adjective

As Cusk has become more disdainful of fiction and more insistent on the documentary function of art, her work has become vaguer and less concrete, fading like old ink into blurred indeterminacy.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
It was delivered with sneers, an ugly, small-minded few minutes in support of the sclerotic, disdainful of dynamic change.

— Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

Definition of disdainful

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patronizes

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“Patronizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronizing. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of patronizing

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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