1
as in to stoop
to descend to a level that is beneath one's dignity
I will not condescend to answer the sore loser's charge that I cheated in order to win the race
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2
as in to patronize
to assume or treat with an air of superiority
wealthy people who tend to be condescending toward their poor relations
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Recent Examples of condescend
The party has become the party of the college-educated and for the college-educated — and its members talk like it in ways the working class often finds condescending or alienating.
—
Alex Thompson, Axios, 22 Mar. 2025
The framing, blocking, and overall visual grammar have a condescending air, as if directors have surrendered to some insipid idea of who their audience is.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
Musk remained unimpressed, dismissing Rubio with a smirk and a condescending jab.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Reportedly, Tulip mastermind Charles Hegel (played with perfect measure of condescending arrogance by Josh Brener) has died in Kenya, and took with him all the necessary passwords needed to access the accounts of his many investors.
—Joe Leydon, Variety, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescend
Alex Thompson, Axios, 22 Mar. 2025
The framing, blocking, and overall visual grammar have a condescending air, as if directors have surrendered to some insipid idea of who their audience is.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
Musk remained unimpressed, dismissing Rubio with a smirk and a condescending jab.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Reportedly, Tulip mastermind Charles Hegel (played with perfect measure of condescending arrogance by Josh Brener) has died in Kenya, and took with him all the necessary passwords needed to access the accounts of his many investors.
—Joe Leydon, Variety, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condescend
Cite this Entry
“Condescend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condescend. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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