condescend Definition
to behave in a way that shows that you consider yourself better or more intelligent than other people and that you do not need to be polite to them.
Using condescend: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "condescend" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He condescended to speak to us.
Example
She never condescends to talk to the cleaning staff.
Example
Don't condescend to me, I know what I'm doing.
Example
He had a habit of condescending to his colleagues.
condescend Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using condescend
to do something that one considers beneath oneself
Example
He finally condescended to help with the dishes after much persuasion.
condescend to someone's level
to lower oneself to someone else's level of understanding or behavior
Example
She refused to condescend to his level of name-calling and insults.
to act as if one is doing someone a favor by being present
Example
He always acted as if he was doing us a favor by condescending to grace us with his presence.
Phrases with condescend
a patronizing or superior attitude towards others
Example
Her condescending attitude towards her coworkers made it difficult for them to work together.
a tone of voice that suggests the speaker is talking down to the listener
Example
I don't appreciate your condescending tone when you speak to me.
behavior that suggests the person is better than others and does not need to be polite to them
Example
His condescending behavior towards the waitstaff was unacceptable.
Origins of condescend
from Latin 'con-' meaning 'together' + 'descendere' meaning 'descend'
Summary: condescend in Brief
'Condescend' [ˌkɑːndɪˈsend] means to behave in a way that shows one considers oneself better or more intelligent than others and does not need to be polite to them. It is often used to describe a patronizing or superior attitude, tone, or behavior towards others. Examples include 'He condescended to speak to us' and 'Her condescending attitude towards her coworkers.'
