Meaning & use
condescending tone
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Meanings
nouncountabledisapproving
a way of speaking that shows you think you are smarter or more important than the person you are talking to.
Grammar: Usually used with 'a' or 'in a': 'She asked in a condescending tone.'
Patterns
- in a condescending tone
- a condescending tone of voice
- speak in a condescending tone
He explained the rules to me in a condescending tone, as if I had never played the game before.
Her condescending tone made the whole team feel stupid.
I could hear the condescending tone in his voice when he asked if I needed help.
nounsingulardisapproving
a general attitude in writing or speech that treats other people as less able or less informed.
Grammar: Often used after 'adopt' or 'take': 'The article takes a condescending tone.'
Patterns
- adopt a condescending tone
- take a condescending tone
- a condescending tone toward someone
The guidebook takes a condescending tone toward local customs.
Reviewers criticized the report for its condescending tone toward younger workers.
His email had a condescending tone that upset several colleagues.
Word forms
| plural | condescending tones |
|---|
Common combinations
- in a condescending tone
- She answered in a condescending tone that surprised everyone.
- a condescending tone of voice
- He used a condescending tone of voice when speaking to the new intern.
- adopt a condescending tone
- Try not to adopt a condescending tone when giving feedback.
- speak in a condescending tone
- The manager spoke in a condescending tone throughout the meeting.
- a condescending tone toward someone
- I dislike the condescending tone toward customers in that advertisement.
Synonyms and how they differ
- patronizing tone
- Very close in meaning; 'patronizing' often suggests treating someone like a child, while 'condescending' focuses on feeling superior.
- superior tone
- Emphasizes rank or status rather than intelligence; it can sound more direct and less disapproving.
- dismissive tone
- Focuses on treating someone's ideas as unimportant, not necessarily on feeling smarter.
Opposites
Word family
- condescend verb
- to behave as if you are better than others.
- condescendingly adverb
- in a way that shows you think you are better than others.
- condescension noun
- the act or quality of behaving in a superior way.
Commonly confused: condescending tone or condescending? condescending tone or descending?
condescending tone vs condescending
The adjective alone describes a person or remark: 'a condescending remark'. Adding 'tone' makes it specifically about how something is said.
condescending tone vs descending
'Descending' means going down, as in 'a descending plane'. It sounds similar but has no connection to attitude.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'condescending tone' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'In a condescending tone' is the standard pattern. Option 1 is also natural, but option 0 is the most common fixed form; option 2 puts the phrase in the wrong place, and option 3 is missing 'in a'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “condescending tone”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.