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condescending

/ˈkɔn.dɪ.sɛnd.ɪŋ/

Meanings
  • Adjective, Noun

    Showing or expressing smug and superior attitudes or behavior towards others.

    - "His condescending attitude towards her made her feel uncomfortable."
    - "The professor's condescending tone when answering a student's question was unprofessional."

Pronunciation
  1. /ˌkɑndəˈsɛndɪŋ/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7466054"

Synonyms

descend , acquiesce , deign , stoop , vouchsafe , yield , belittle , patronize , put on airs , patronizing
Rhymes
Words rhyming with condescending
descending , extending , commending , lending
Variants
List of all variants of condescending that leads to same result
condescending , condescendingly , condescend , condescended , condescends
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French 'descondre', meaning 'to look down', from 'des-' meaning 'down' + 'con' meaning 'together' + 'scandre' meaning 'to climb'.


Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word
  1. The term 'condescending' was first used in English in the 16th century.

  2. The word 'condescend' can also be used as a verb, meaning 'to lower oneself in status or rank in order to communicate or interact with someone of lower status or rank'.


Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to
  1. Microaggressions: Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional, verbal or nonverbal actions or messages that convey disrespect, hostility, or inferiority to individuals based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, or other identity.

  2. Prejudice: Prejudice is an unjustified attitude towards a person or group based on their race, religion, gender, or other identity. Condescending behavior can be a manifestation of prejudice.


Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities
  1. The next big sequel to roll off the assembly line (awful, "condescending" phrase, but this is a case of what you have to do when the shoe fits) is going to be a sequel to "Rebecca," Daphne du Maurier's classic 1930's suspense novel.

    - Stephen King,{it}New York Times Book Review{/it},6 June 1993
  2. … when the picturesque was seen close up, the "happy poverty" of the peasant was not always happy. There was something unpleasantly "condescending", an element of esthetic slumming in the tourist's or the artist's view of picturesqueness.

    - Anatole Broyard,{it}New York Times Book Review{/it},1 Oct. 1989
  3. I always imagined publishers were rather snarky and "condescending" and made a point of crabbing one's work, but he didn't a bit.

    - Elizabeth Bowen,letter,19 Jan. 1923

Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The term 'condescending' has been used extensively in literature, particularly in works that explore power dynamics and social hierarchies. For instance, in Fyodor Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment', the character Raskolnikov exhibits a condescending attitude towards the old pawnbroker, Liubavsky, which contributes to his downfall.

How to Memorize "condescending"

  1. visualize

    - Visualize someone looking down on someone else with a smug expression to remember the meaning of 'condescending'.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'condescending' with the feeling of being talked down to or belittled.

  3. mnemonics

    - Create a mnemonic using the word 'condescending' and the phrase 'looking down on others' to help remember its meaning.


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