PATRONIZING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does patronizing mean? 

• PATRONIZING (adjective)
  The adjective PATRONIZING has 1 sense:

1. (used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension

  Familiarity information: PATRONIZING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PATRONIZING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension

Synonyms:

arch; condescending; patronising; patronizing

Similar:

superior (of or characteristic of high rank or importance)

 Context examples 

These men, with their small waists, their gestures, and their unnatural ways, had become wearisome to me, and even my uncle, with his cold and patronizing manner, filled me with very mixed feelings.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The time was not long when Martin ceased patronizing the Japanese restaurants.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He was possessed with a mania for patronizing Yankee ingenuity, and seeing his friends fitly furnished forth.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A general smile followed, in which Wolf Larsen joined, and the dinner went on smoothly, thanks to me, for he treated me abominably the rest of the meal, sneering at me and patronizing me till I was all a-tremble with suppressed rage.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

As the four sisters went home through the garden, Miss Kate looked after them, saying, without the patronizing tone in her voice, In spite of their demonstrative manners, American girls are very nice when one knows them.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She was rather surprised, therefore, when the silence remained unbroken, and Jo assumed a patronizing air, which decidedly aggravated Meg, who in turn assumed an air of dignified reserve and devoted herself to her mother.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

We have many most respectable and worthy young women who do the same and are employed by the nobility, because, being the daughters of gentlemen, they are both well bred and accomplished, you know, said Miss Kate in a patronizing tone that hurt Meg's pride, and made her work seem not only more distasteful, but degrading.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)