PATRONIZING Synonyms: 186 Similar and Opposite Words

patronizing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of patronizing

as in condescending

Related Words

Relevance

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

John’s patronizing, congratulatory tone with regard to Weisz’s character’s dalliance with Vlad doesn’t help. — Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Mar. 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. — Yana Van Der Meulen Rodgers, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 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

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
Which bear is the most condescending?

— Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 2 May 2026

Definition of condescending

Verb

When cutting them back in the fall for the winter, leave a few branches for wildlife to use for protection, but be sure to remove all of the dead branches to reduce the risk of diseases.

— Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
Broadcasters of all sizes, especially local station owners, have been battling cord-cutting and coping with ongoing audience and advertiser shifts away from linear viewing.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of cutting

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

Behind the jokes, some campaigns have carried serious messages, like a man dressed as a fox advocating for animal rights who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Burnham when the former Manchester mayor returned to parliament in June.

— Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Nationally, emergency medicine physicians are doing so by advocating for improved helmeting and educating parents of the risks involved with e-scooters.

— Narmeen Khan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of advocating

Adjective

Apple’s market dominance is built around September; moving away from tradition would upset the ecosystem supporting the launch and risk weakening the iPhone’s dominant position.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
There have been plenty of dominant teams in the 150-plus-year history of college football, but few have left a bigger mark on the sport than the Miami Hurricanes did during the 1980s.

— Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of dominant

Verb

Meanwhile, Mercury in your private 12th house sextiles Venus in your 2nd House of Resources, supporting quiet decisions around money, self-worth, and peace.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Johnson said the development could add to the local tax base while supporting construction and information technology jobs.

— Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of supporting

Adjective

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
Trump, disdainful of international law and untroubled about the fate of the Palestinians, became the only President in fifty years not to support Palestinian self-rule.

— David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

Definition of disdainful

Browse Nearby Words

patronizes

patronizing

patrons

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Patronizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronizing. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of patronizing

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on patronizing

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

vacuous

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes