condescend
Act smugly superior
To condescend is to act as though you're lowering yourself to someone else's level—implying superiority while appearing gracious.
The word almost always carries negative connotations: She condescended to explain the basics, as if I were a child.
Someone who condescends may offer help or attention in a way that emphasizes the gap in status rather than bridging it.
Less commonly, condescend can simply mean to do something beneath one's dignity: The CEO rarely condescends to attend staff meetings.
Treating someone as inferior
- deignReluctantly consent beneath status
- stoopSmall entry porch
- vouchsafeGrant with condescension
- talk downSpeak patronizingly to someone
dumb down · oversimplify · paternalistic · indulge · tolerate · accommodate · bestow · favor
Reluctantly consent beneath status
- accommodateProvide for or adjust
- obligeRequire or assist
- deferDelay or submit
- come downMove to lower position
mingle · unbend · meet halfway · reach out
To make something seem unimportant
- diminishTo make smaller
- deprecateExpress earnest disapproval
- undermineWeaken by stealth
- put downInsulting remark meant to diminish
talk down to · infantilize · trivialize · minimize · disrespect · underestimate · disparage · humiliate
Hostile dismissive feeling
- contemptDisdainful disregard
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- sneerScornful expression
- disdainfulShowing open contempt
dismissive · snub · spurn · disparage · belittle · disrespect · haughty · scoff
Excessive self-importance
- haughtinessDisdainful sense of superiority
- superciliousArrogantly contemptuous of others
- snobberyPretentious social superiority
- pompousAffectedly grand in manner
imperious · lordly · self-important · smug · overbearing · contemptuous · holier-than-thou · snobbishness
patronizing
Treating someone as inferior
talk down · dumb down · oversimplify · paternalistic · indulge · tolerate · accommodate · bestow · favor · grace
deign
Reluctantly consent beneath status
- accommodateProvide for or adjust
- obligeRequire or assist
- deferDelay or submit
come down · mingle · unbend · meet halfway · reach out
belittle
To make something seem unimportant
put down · talk down to · infantilize · trivialize · minimize · disrespect · underestimate · disparage · humiliate · embarrass
scorn
Hostile dismissive feeling
disdainful · dismissive · snub · spurn · disparage · belittle · disrespect · haughty · scoff · slight
arrogance
Excessive self-importance
- haughtinessDisdainful sense of superiority
- superciliousArrogantly contemptuous of others
- snobberyPretentious social superiority
pompous · imperious · lordly · self-important · smug · overbearing · contemptuous · holier-than-thou · snobbishness · elitist
condescendrespect
Regard with honor
esteem · defer · look up to · honor · revere
condescending, condescension, condescended, condescends, condescendingly, condescensions