condescending attitude

Meaning

1. 1phrasecountable

   A way of behaving that shows you think you are better or more important than other people.

   Grammar: Often used with 'a': She spoke with a condescending attitude.

   Patterns

   • a condescending attitude toward someone
   • with a condescending attitude
   • have a condescending attitude

   His condescending attitude made the new employees feel unwelcome.

   She had a condescending attitude toward anyone who hadn't gone to college.

   I don't like his condescending attitude when he explains simple things.

Common combinations

condescending attitude toward

His condescending attitude toward the interns annoyed everyone.

speak with a condescending attitude

She spoke with a condescending attitude that made me angry.

condescending tone

I could hear the condescending tone in his voice.

condescending smile

He gave me a condescending smile, as if I were a child.

Synonyms and how they differ

patronizing

Very similar, but 'patronizing' often suggests treating someone like a child, while 'condescending' stresses feeling superior.

superior

Focuses on the feeling of being better; 'condescending' focuses on the behavior that shows it.

arrogant

Means having an exaggerated sense of your own importance; 'condescending' is more about how you treat others as lesser.

Opposites

Word family

condescend verb

To behave in a way that shows you think you are better than others.

condescendingly adverb

In a way that shows you think you are better than others.

condescension noun

The act of behaving as if you are better than others.

Commonly confused: condescending attitude or condescending?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “condescending attitude”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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