condescending

American  

[kon-duh-sen-ding] / ˌkɒn dəˈsɛn dɪŋ /

adjective

1. showing or implying a usually patronizing descent from dignity or superiority.

   They resented the older neighbors' condescending cordiality.

   Synonyms:

   supercilious, disdainful, patronizing

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Usage

What does condescending mean? To be condescending is to interact with others in a way that implies that you’re superior to them. It especially refers to when this is done in an arrogant or patronizing way—meaning when you act as if you’re doing someone a favor by supposedly lowering yourself to their level of understanding or intelligence.Condescending is always used negatively and implies that such behavior is insulting to the person or people it’s directed toward.The word can be used to describe a person, their actions, or their words. It’s especially applied to words like comment, tone, and attitude. Being condescending often involves not only what is said, but also how it’s said. A condescending tone is often one that sounds like it’s directed at a child.Condescending is most commonly used as an adjective, but it’s also the continuous tense (-ing form) of the verb condescend, which most commonly means to act in this way. The act of doing so is called condescension.Example: You don’t have to be so condescending by explaining it to me with small words—I understand the topic just fine.

Other Word Forms

• condescendingly adverb
• noncondescending adjective
• noncondescendingly adverb
• noncondescendingness noun
• uncondescending adjective
• uncondescendingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of condescending

First recorded in 1630–40; condescend + -ing ²

Compare meaning

How does condescending compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• patronizing vs. condescending

Example Sentences

Hollywood types often strike a snarky and condescending tone when they peer down the ladder at the low rungs of show business—an excellent example is the 2017 comedy “The Disaster Artist.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“He was always extremely warm and very present, there was nothing condescending in him. He never treated me like a kid. We clicked right away.”

From Los Angeles Times

While this may sound condescending today, at the time it was a broad-minded position.

From The Wall Street Journal

It shows us that he could be down-to-earth without ever condescending to his readers.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, his wife, the Baroness Hoover, was monstrous, rude, and condescending, and like the Earl of Maytag, she scarcely considered the Incorrigibles to be human.

From Literature

Related Words

• arrogant
• highfalutin
• patronizing
• snooty