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Glite Dictionary
to condescend to

to condescend to

7 8.2
Treat someone as if you are better than them
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˌkɒndɪˈsɛnd tu/
translation icon : condescender a
  • I don't want to be condescended to.
  • never condescend to
  • condescend to people

Examples

  • Don't you condescend to me.

    The Mist (2007)

  • Do not patronize or condescend to me by claiming to do anything so absurd as that on my behalf.

    Blog text (7)

  • Oh, no, but you would never condescend to such a marriage.

    The Good Earth (1937)

  • When have you condescended to hide from a woman?

    Deception (1946)

  • You leave a trail of misery like that, and then you dare to condescend to me?

    Dangerous Game (1993)

  • You don't have to condescend to me.

    Clerks III (2022)

  • I don't like the way he condescends to me either.

    Tootsie (1982)

  • Don't condescend to me.

    The Book of Henry (2017)

  • On nights when she couldn't find her own fun, she used to condescend to ride around with them, listen to their eight-track tapes, and drink their Coors.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • I wish he would stop trying to condescend to me; I know I am capable of making my own decisions.

Synonyms

to look down on
vsto condescend to
  • Offensive
53 3.7

Think you are better than someone and treat them as less important

centres on treating someone as inferior rather than only thinking it
to patronize
vsto condescend to
  • Offensive
52 7.0

To treat someone as if you are better or smarter than them

is the same behaviour but emphasises the act rather than speech only
to talk down to
vsto condescend to
  • Offensive
15 6.6

Speak to someone as if they are less smart or important

includes the same tone but the key covers any directed behaviour
to talk down
vsto condescend to
  • Offensive
14 6.7

To speak to someone as if they are less smart or less important

is the same demeanour but also covers nonverbal superior behaviour
to condescend
vsto condescend to
7 7.8

To act as if you are better than other people and make them feel small

is the same action but used when directed specifically at someone
to act superior
vsto condescend to
1 6.7

Behave as if you are better than other people

focuses specifically on treating someone as inferior rather than asserting authority
to matronize
vsto condescend to
  • US
9.9

To act like someone is less able in a motherly way

is broader, applying to superiority without the caring or motherly tone
to speak with condescension
vsto condescend to
8.3

Talk to someone in a way that shows you feel better than them

is broader, covering behaviour beyond just speaking
belittling
vsto condescend to
6.2

Showing that someone or something has little value

is more about showing superiority in behaviour rather than only criticising

How Condescending

to demean
53 6.8
to belittle
45 5.0
to condescend to
7 8.2
to talk down to
  • Offensive
15 6.6
to patronize
  • Offensive
52 7.0

Surface Forms

condescend infinitive
condescended past
condescended past participle
condescending present participle
condescends third person singular

Morphology

condescend + to

The meaning is directly derived from 'condescend' (to act superior or patronize) with the particle 'to' simply marking the target or complement; no idiomatic shift occurs. Because the core sense is carried by 'condescend' and 'to' is a grammatical marker, a learner who knows the constituents can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Condescend to comes from the old literal idea of going down; the part descend means 'to go down', so imagine someone high above bending down to speak to someone below. That's why condescend to now means acting as if you are more important or 'looking down' on someone.