Word
patronizing
Phoneticspa·tron·iz·ing
/ˈpeɪtɹəˌnaɪzɪŋ/
UK spelling · patronising
Definition
v. behaving in a way that makes you seem more important or better than someone else. You use this to describe someone who treats a person with a fake kind of care or respect.
v. behaving in a condescending or superior manner toward others. Often describes a tone or attitude that implies a lack of genuine respect for the person's intelligence or status.
Examples
“He gave a patronizing smile when I asked for help.”
“The manager's patronizing attitude made the new employees feel like they were not capable of making their own decisions.”
“The author's patronizing tone throughout the biography suggests a deep-seated disdain for the subject's humble origins, despite the narrative's claim to be a neutral historical account.”
Examples
simple
“He gave a patronizing smile when I asked for help.”
contextual
“The manager's patronizing attitude made the new employees feel like they were not capable of making their own decisions.”
complex
“The author's patronizing tone throughout the biography suggests a deep-seated disdain for the subject's humble origins, despite the narrative's claim to be a neutral historical account.”
Real-World Examples
“Instead she was left with patronising chatter from nurses: “Do you think we should have some music in here?” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/patronizing