condescend
verb (used without object)
to behave as if one is conscious of descending from a superior position, rank, or dignity.
was condescending
-
past progressiveof condescend.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There was no difference in effectiveness between neutral and affirming debunkbots, whereas when the debunkbot was condescending, it was somewhat less effective at reducing conspiracy beliefs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2026
“He belittled the staff and was condescending to faculty and graduate students,” wrote Joseph Langdon, who had been a BMI assistant director at the time, in a statement published this spring on Medium.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2021
"It was condescending, it was arrogant and it wasn't the right thing to do. The sooner they can give us the information, the sooner we can all make a judgment about it."
From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2019
It was condescending, it was mean, it was laugh-out-loud funny and it was also kind of true.
From Golf Digest ● Jan. 11, 2019
He shouldn’t have been so ill-tempered with the poor man; it wasn’t Harrison’s fault that Okeoma felt he was condescending.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
