to matronize
- verb
- /ˈmeɪtrəˌnaɪz/
- US
:
tratar con condescendencia
- She tended to matronize her younger colleagues, which they found annoying.
Examples
-
She matronizes her younger colleagues.
-
Don't matronize me!
-
He didn't mean to matronize you, but his tone came across as condescending.
-
Please don't matronize me; I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions.
-
She always matronizes her younger colleagues, giving them unsolicited advice as if they were children.
-
His tendency to matronize his friends often annoyed them, especially when he acted as if he knew best.
-
During the meeting, she matronized her teammates by speaking to them in a overly sweet tone, making them feel belittled.
Synonyms
52
7.0
To treat someone as if you are better or smarter than them
7
7.8
To act as if you are better than other people and make them feel small
7
8.2
Treat someone as if you are better than them
5
8.3
To treat someone like a child and act as if they cannot make decisions
Antonyms
How Patronizing
- US
7
7.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Matronize comes from matron, which means 'a married woman or mother' and is related to the simple word 'mother'. So to matronize someone is to treat them in a motherly way that feels bossy or 'talking down' to them.