condescenders
Those belittling others
People who condescend—who adopt an air of superiority toward others, often by explaining things others already know or treating them as less capable.
The word implies habitual behavior: The worst condescenders don't realize they're doing it.
Someone might be a condescender in specific contexts—toward younger colleagues, toward service workers—without being universally patronizing.
Treating someone as inferior
- smugnessExcessive pride in oneself
- haughtinessDisdainful sense of superiority
- arroganceExcessive self-importance
- superciliousArrogantly contemptuous of others
overbearing · presumptuous · pompous · contemptuous · imperious · lordly · snobbish · self-important
To make something seem unimportant
- patronizeAct superior toward
- sneerScornful expression
- scoffMock with disdain
- snubDeliberate dismissive rejection
disparage · deprecate · talk down · lecture · mansplain · dismiss · underestimate · diminish
Pretentious social superiority
- elitismPreference for privileged rule
- classismPrejudice by economic rank
- exclusivityState of being limited
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
entitlement · aristocratic · bourgeois · pretentious · uppity · pedigree · pompousness · affectation
patronizing
Treating someone as inferior
- smugnessExcessive pride in oneself
- haughtinessDisdainful sense of superiority
- arroganceExcessive self-importance
supercilious · overbearing · presumptuous · pompous · contemptuous · imperious · lordly · snobbish · self-important · high-and-mighty
belittle
To make something seem unimportant
snub · disparage · deprecate · talk down · lecture · mansplain · dismiss · underestimate · diminish · trivialize
snobbery
Pretentious social superiority
- elitismPreference for privileged rule
- classismPrejudice by economic rank
- exclusivityState of being limited
privilege · entitlement · aristocratic · bourgeois · pretentious · uppity · pedigree · pompousness · affectation · airs
underlings
Lower-ranked employees
- subordinatesThose ranked below
- inferiorsThose of lower rank
- novicesInexperienced newcomers
newcomers · outsiders · staff · employees · students · laypeople · commoners · masses · peasants
condescendersegalitarians
Advocates for equal rights
respecters · encouragers · empowerers · uplifters · admirers
condescend, condescending, condescendingly, condescension, descend, descender, descenders, descending, descent