condescending

[kon-duh-sen-ding]

adjective

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

   They resented the older neighbors' condescending cordiality.

   Synonyms: supercilious, disdainful, patronizing

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of condescending¹

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

Example Sentences

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

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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.

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"So condescending. Creating a dumbed down sports channel for women is unbelievably sexist. Incredible that it was approved and that it's still live," they said.

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But in a letter of resignation, she said another reason for leaving was the "condescending and controlling language used towards survivors".

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"Maybe the opponent sometimes can be condescending, to look down on you," he said.

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Related Words

• arrogant 
• highfalutin 
• patronizing 
• snooty 

When To Use

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.