Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Displaying a patronizingly superior attitude.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Marked or characterized by condescension; stooping to the level of one's inferiors.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective exhibiting an attitude of superiority; patronizing; -- used of behavior or attitude.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Assuming a tone of
superiority , or apatronizing attitude . - verb Present participle of
condescend .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective (used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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The Clinton campaign declared Senator Obama's speeches won't hide what it called his condescending views of small town America and speaking for the first time on the controversy, Senator McCain accused Senator Obama of elitism.
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And I think marketers are being just plain condescending to women in general and thereby hurting -- rather than helping -- their sales goals.
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No, being condescending is sometimes entirely justified and is not being a jackass at all.
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Dilan Esper: No, being condescending is sometimes entirely justified and is not being a jackass atall.
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If so, forgive me while I burst out in condescending laughter.
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Why her own campaign uses a photo that makes her look cold and condescending is beyond me.
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I ... weak -- in condescending sympathy with the weak (1Co 9: 22).
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See the marks he has there left of his love in condescending so low for us; see how easy he has made that bed, and how lightsome, for us, by lying in it himself; when we look into the grave, where we expect we must lie, to take off the terror of it, let us look into the grave where the Lord lay; the place where our
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume V (Matthew to John) 1721
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He is free in condescending to us, while we are shy of ascending to him.
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon) 1721
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Normally, I’d say condescending is a flaw, but if the audience is meant to find Mike dumb, I doubt that we’d hold condescension against her.
Superhero Nation: how to write superhero novels and comic books » SVT’s Review Forum 2009
erinoftheyear commented on the word condescending
My boss uses this word when he's describing himself. But he always seems a bit proud of it. I find it very creepy.
August 15, 2007
sonofgroucho commented on the word condescending
Some useful phrases here. Mainly applicable to the working environment I think.
December 18, 2007
DoubleH2 commented on the word condescending
I had an English teacher who made a distinction between condescending and patronizing. She claimed that patronizing derived from patron, like a sponsor or an aristocratic "patron of the arts". From there she said that a person who is patronizing intends to be helpful, since a patron is a helpful position, whereas someone who is condescending is much more malicious. Not sure if I buy it though.
February 29, 2012