Meaning & use
patronizing
Treating someone as less intelligent or important, in a way that shows unearned superiority.
See it in a sentence
His patronizing tone made the new intern feel foolish for asking a simple question.
She hates when waiters use a patronizing voice to explain the menu to her.
A note on using this word
Patronizing describes manner or tone, not intent; a speaker may not realize they sound patronizing.
Words with a similar meaning
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Words with an opposite meaning
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