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patronizingly

patronizingly

1 8.6
Acting as if you are better than other people
  • adverb
  • /ˌpeɪtrəˈnaɪzɪŋli/
  • Offensive
translation icon : con condescendencia
  • He spoke to the children patronizingly, as if they couldn't understand simple instructions.
  • smiled patronizingly
  • said patronizingly
  • rather patronizingly

And then he patronizingly says, guys, these are jokes.

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Examples

  • At this, the principal smiles patronizingly as my dad continues.

    Blog text (15)
  • The mother patronizingly said, "Oh, you must have thought that was a gunshot!"

    Blog text (6)
  • I said patronizingly, "Yes, Mama, I want some advice."

    Fiction book (2001)
  • And then he patronizingly says, guys, these are jokes.

  • Are we colored folks, as many of our white friends rather patronizingly dub us?

    Academic text (1994)
  • And he remembers one of his medical school teachers patronizingly imploring the rest of the class.

  • He sets the phone down and smiles patronizingly at Vivian.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "Personally," he told his friend patronizingly in a letter that Williams quotes in the "Prologue," "I have a distaste for miscellany."

    Academic text (2007)
  • The "probably" is Pitts' synonym for "apparently," giving him license to invent patronizingly fictional motivations.

    Blog text (34)
  • After Boland patronizingly offered copies of the New York Times article to the NSF representatives, no one from the agency dared bring up funding the NNTT.

    Academic text (2003)

Synonyms

arrogantly
vspatronizingly
8 4.8

In a way that shows someone thinks they are better than other people

is closer to quiet belittling than overt self-importance
dismissively
vspatronizingly
6 5.5

In a way that shows you think something is not important

is similar but focuses more on implied superiority than mere ignoring
contemptuously
vspatronizingly
4 7.5

In a way that shows you have no respect for someone or something

is similar but centers on superior attitude instead of pure contempt
condescendingly
vspatronizingly
4 7.8

In a way that shows someone thinks they are better or smarter than other people

is the same attitude but often with gentle superiority rather than bluntness
disparagingly
vspatronizingly
  • Offensive
3 7.3

In a way that shows you do not respect someone and say bad things about them

is comparable but emphasizes superiority rather than plain disrespect
disdainfully
vspatronizingly
3 7.3

With a look or voice that shows strong dislike and no respect

shares negative feeling but is often less openly scornful and more superior
haughtily
vspatronizingly
2 6.6

Behave in a proud, unfriendly way to show you feel better than others

is similar but can be softer and more subtly dismissive
pompously
vspatronizingly
1 7.7

In a proud, showy way to seem more important than others

shares pride but is less about grandeur and more about belittling others
snobbishly
vspatronizingly
  • Offensive
1 7.6

In a way that shows you feel better than other people

expresses superiority more generally, not only social class distinctions
superiorly
vspatronizingly
7.7

In a way that shows someone thinks they are better than others

is similar but often less openly boastful and more subtly condescending
superciliously
vspatronizingly
9.2

In a way that shows you feel better than other people

shares superiority but is usually less focused on scorn and more on tone
snottily
vspatronizingly
  • Informal
8.8

In a rude way that shows someone thinks they are better than others

shares disdain but is often more about condescending tone than rudeness
snootily
vspatronizingly
7.9

In a way that shows you think you are better than others

is like that but applies to attitude rather than social class alone
uppishly
vspatronizingly
  • Informal
9.8

Behaving as if you are better than other people

is similar but often focuses on tone of dismissal rather than pose
scoffingly
vspatronizingly
  • Offensive
8.6

In a rude way that shows you think someone is silly

is more about a calm superior attitude than overt mocking behavior

Antonyms

152 1.0

In a way that shows true feelings without pretending

How Condescending

humiliatingly
  • Offensive
1 6.7
insultingly
  • Offensive
2 5.9
patronizingly
  • Offensive
1 8.6
respectfully
101 2.3

Surface Forms

patronizingly positive

Morphology

patronizingly = patronizing (transparent) = patron + ize + ing + ly

The adverb is the regular -ly form of 'patronizing', so its meaning as 'in a patronizing manner' is directly predictable.

Etymology

The word patronizingly comes from patron, which once meant 'protector' or a person with power who looks after others, so picture that person looking down on you. So, to act patronizingly is to speak or behave as if you are above someone, showing a superior or condescending attitude.