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

The Green family started patronizing the restaurant in the 1980s. — Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026 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 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

Leslie took issue with a recent stunt Kennedy had pulled at the hospital, which involved making a surprise appearance for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open his signature vaccine injury clinic.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Stephanie Keith | Bloomberg | Getty Images American Express is cutting thousands of employees as the leading credit card company prepares for artificial intelligence to take over more of its internal processes.

— Hugh Son, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of cutting

Verb

His critics interpreted it as endorsing the massacre of Israeli civilians, though Abu Shehadeh and others vigorously denied that claim.

— Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Leikauf’s announcement followed months of criticism from his predecessor, John D’Agostini, who served three terms as sheriff before endorsing Leikauf in 2022.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of endorsing

Adjective

Lee recognizes the potential for that in the servant and chooses not to do these things, or at least not do them in a domineering or self-serving way.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Sources said Gunning plays Annie, a quietly dutiful wife who has sacrificed her ambitions to raise four sons under her domineering husband, Duncan.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of domineering

Verb

Passengers United, a nonprofit organization advocating for transit riders, has been pushing for reforms to fare enforcement.

— Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
On Jathar’s first visit, those organizational talking points included advocating for funding smart grids, authorizing Department of Energy research, and investing in STEM education.

— Lucas Laursen, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of advocating

Adjective

The shift signals a turning point for the left, which has historically struggled to counter the far-right’s dominant online presence and savvy digital strategy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
And, like its former parent, higher fuel costs will be a dominant theme throughout the report.

— Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of dominant

Verb

With roaring support from a packed crowd, Macklemore launched his Free Palestine Tour in Ireland’s capital Monday, just over a month after he was controversially dropped as Ed Sheeran’s supporting act.

— Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
Attorneys general from 39 states and the District of Columbia have filed an amicus brief supporting New Jersey’s case against Kalshi.

— Josh Appel, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 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

Browse Nearby Words

patronizes

patronizing

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Style

“Patronizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronizing. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of patronizing

adjective

verb

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