Synonyms of condescending (adj. arrogant. patronizing. snooty. complaisant. disdainful.
Other words for condescending
patronizing, disdainful, supercilious.
Call Them On It
Calmly and professionally call out the patronizing person without without making a scene or being dramatic by pointedly yet politely saying, “Gee, that comment sounded a bit condescending to me. Mind dropping the attitude?” Hopefully, he takes you up on the do-over opportunity.
speaking or behaving toward someone as if they are stupid or not important: It's that patronizing tone of hers that I can't bear. Synonyms. arrogant. conceited disapproving.
To patronize someone is usually to be in agreement with someone in a sarcastic manner or in a superior (know it all) way. To be condescending is to speak to someone as if they are below you or have less individual value as you, if you are condescending you speak down to others.
If someone patronizes you, they speak or behave towards you in a way which seems friendly, but which shows that they think they are superior to you in some way. [disapproval] Don't you patronize me! [
Saying things like “You always make that mistake” or “You never do things properly” is extremely patronizing. It makes the other person feel like a complete failure and by putting them down like that, they are actually more likely to act in that way.
Condescension is rude and patronizing. Treating someone with condescension is the opposite of treating them with respect. Condescension is full of arrogant and snooty attitude, and people who practice condescension treat others like inferior idiots.
Although it's tempting to give the offender a piece of your mind, remaining calm is the best response. Flying off the handle only makes the other person believe that their behaviour is justified. Also, be careful not to reply to a condescending person with more condescension.
People have a patronizing attitude and exhibit condescending behavior for different reasons, but usually, it boils down to insecurity and/or arrogance. Yes, you can definitely be arrogant and insecure at the same time. Here, we point out some behaviors people say that typically don't land well and foster negativity.
Patronize comes from Latin patronus "protector, master," related to pater "father." So if you patronize a person, you talk down to them like a father might do to his child or a master to his apprentice.
Speak up. If someone's condescension is interfering with your ability to do your job, then you need to call the person out. Without anger, courteously but directly respond to the behavior. Try something like, "I really appreciate your input, I know you have a lot of experience in this area.
If someone is patronizing, they speak or behave towards you in a way that seems friendly, but which shows that they think they are superior to you. The tone of the interview was unnecessarily patronizing . Schneider patted the girl patronizingly on the cheek.
Narcissistic personality disorder involves a pattern of self-centered, arrogant thinking and behavior, a lack of empathy and consideration for other people, and an excessive need for admiration. Others often describe people with NPD as cocky, manipulative, selfish, patronizing, and demanding.
adjective. If someone is patronizing, they speak or behave toward you in a way that seems friendly, but that shows that they think they are superior to you. [disapproval] The tone of the interview was unnecessarily patronizing.
The Psychology Behind Condescending Behaviour
Often, the root of condescension is insecurity. Those who aren't confident in their abilities will look for opportunities to prove their superiority and take comfort in it.
“Gaslighting their partner and making them feel crazy, second-guessing their perspective and experiences, [or] refusing to compromise or even engage with their partner after a conflict,” are also examples of things a condescending partner will do, according to Saba Harouni Lurie, LMFT, the owner and founder of Take ...
Patronizing. Patronizing is when you outwardly appear kind and helpful but inwardly feel superior or condescending. If you notice a pattern in yourself or someone else of constantly feeling “better than” or “holier than thou,” you might be acting in passive-aggressive ways.
When you patronize another person, you treat them in a way that makes them feel small and stupid. In other words, they doubt their own opinions and beliefs. And you do it a manner which they do not appreciate.
Key Difference – Condescending vs Patronizing
These two adjectives are very similar in meaning and can be used interchangeably in most instances. Patronizing refers to treating someone with apparent kindness which betrays a feeling of superiority. Condescending refers to displaying a superior attitude.
Language which refers to people unknown to you in terms of endearment ('My dear', 'Darling', 'Love', and 'Dear' when used in speech) is patronising, condescending and promotes trivialisation. These forms should not be used unless the interlocutor has a close relationship with the speaker.
“When an action is helpful, it feels like both parties are on equal footing. Being helpful comes from a genuine place, without any expectations in return. On the other hand, being patronizing is when you attempt to help and appear kind, but you do so with a superior attitude or in a condescending way.”
Patronizing is predominantly used in 🇺🇸 American (US) English ( en-US ) while patronising is predominantly used in 🇬🇧 British English (used in UK/AU/NZ) ( en-GB ). In the United States, there is a preference for "patronizing" over "patronising" (97 to 3).
Empathy, defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, is a beautiful thing. But when empathy misses the mark, it borders on condescending, oftentimes jumping right into the pool of patronizing.