Condescension
noun
An attitude or behavior that people show when they believe they are better or more important than others.
Her condescension towards her staff made them feel unimportant.
Often appears as...
- act of condescension
- air of condescension
noun
The act of lowering oneself in dignity or importance.
His condescension in dealing with people below his status was unusually noticeable.
Often appears as...
- act of condescension
- condescension towards
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
An attitude or behavior that people show when they believe they are better or more important than others.
Her condescension towards her staff made them feel unimportant.
Often appears as...
- act of condescension
- air of condescension
noun
The act of lowering oneself in dignity or importance.
His condescension in dealing with people below his status was unusually noticeable.
Often appears as...
- act of condescension
- condescension towards
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Often Negative
The word 'condescension' commonly carries a negative implication of arrogance.
I felt a sting of condescension in his laughter.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Mockery
'Condescension' can subtly convey mockery, as if the speaker is feigning politeness.
Her 'thank you' dripped with condescension.
Pro Tip 3/3Power Dynamics
It's often used to describe a power imbalance, where one person patronizes another.
The manager's condescension towards the intern was uncalled for.
Pro Tip 1/3Often Negative
The word 'condescension' commonly carries a negative implication of arrogance.
I felt a sting of condescension in his laughter.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Mockery
'Condescension' can subtly convey mockery, as if the speaker is feigning politeness.
Her 'thank you' dripped with condescension.
Pro Tip 3/3Power Dynamics
It's often used to describe a power imbalance, where one person patronizes another.
The manager's condescension towards the intern was uncalled for.
Pro Tip 1/3Often Negative
The word 'condescension' commonly carries a negative implication of arrogance.
I felt a sting of condescension in his laughter.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Mockery
'Condescension' can subtly convey mockery, as if the speaker is feigning politeness.
Her 'thank you' dripped with condescension.
Pro Tip 3/3Power Dynamics
It's often used to describe a power imbalance, where one person patronizes another.
The manager's condescension towards the intern was uncalled for.
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Video examples
Mike O'Sullivan: The end...
But the age of condescension is now over, so the tangible opportunity in a less uniform, more value-driven world for these countries is that they have much greater choice in the path to follow, and arguably greater pressure to get it right.
Video examples
Amelia Earhart Part II:...
she herself piloted and after that that kind of condescension and patriotizing tone grew far more mute and amelia's career was launched into the stratosphere she became a worldwide celebrity which gave her a megaphone and access to power
Video examples
Mike O'Sullivan: The end...
But the age of condescension is now over, so the tangible opportunity in a less uniform, more value-driven world for these countries is that they have much greater choice in the path to follow, and arguably greater pressure to get it right.
Video examples
Amelia Earhart Part II:...
she herself piloted and after that that kind of condescension and patriotizing tone grew far more mute and amelia's career was launched into the stratosphere she became a worldwide celebrity which gave her a megaphone and access to power
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Rumaan Alam
American Author
When you are young, it's deeply annoying to be told that certain things are a condition of your youth. There's almost always some condescension in the proposition that your reality, your hopes, your frustrations, are just a condition of your age, that what feels unique to you is a very common thing after all.
Quote examples
Tommy Fleetwood
English Athlete
Golf has been the sport of the social elite, with lawyers and doctors. But I have never been embarrassed by the looks I've been given by others. I have sometimes been looked at with condescension and it still happens now, but I know how to deal with it - I know whose opinions count.
Quote examples
Nancy Kress
American Writer
Words change over time. 'Condescending,' for instance, was once a good thing to be. It meant that a person was willing to interact politely with people of lower social ranks. In Jane Austen's world, a lady praised for her condescension was receiving a sincere compliment.
Quote examples
Heather Mac Donald
American Editor
It is not the case that I can predict your views knowing that you are a white male. I cannot predict your views if you are a black female, and it is height of both arrogance and condescension to think that somebody can be type casted on the base of.
Quote examples
Sayed Kashua
Israeli Author
There's a lot of hypocrisy and condescension in Israel's institutionalized support for Mubarak's tyrannical rule, in its backing of a corrupt leader who established a brutal secret police state to suppress his citizens and keep their mouths shut.
Quote examples
Euzhan Palcy
Director
When I started out, there were three things that made film people look at me with condescension, I was young, I was black, and I was female. I have won a certain respect, but I think the film community still sees directing as a male job.
Quote examples
Sarah Weinman
American Journalist
Laura' was overtly political for sure. Caspary was trying to make a point about women and independence and how men viewed them, with derision or condescension or on a pedestal, when the real person was ignored.
Quote examples
Paul Romer
American Economist
The thing that was bad about colonialism, and the thing which is residually bad in some of our aid programs, is that it involved elements of coercion and condescension.
Quote examples
Stella Young
Australian Comedian
We are a society that treats people with disabilities with condescension and pity, not dignity and respect.
Quote examples
Phillips Brooks
American Clergyman
Jesus Christ, the condescension of divinity, and the exaltation of humanity.
Quote examples
Rumaan Alam
American Author
When you are young, it's deeply annoying to be told that certain things are a condition of your youth. There's almost always some condescension in the proposition that your reality, your hopes, your frustrations, are just a condition of your age, that what feels unique to you is a very common thing after all.
Quote examples
Tommy Fleetwood
English Athlete
Golf has been the sport of the social elite, with lawyers and doctors. But I have never been embarrassed by the looks I've been given by others. I have sometimes been looked at with condescension and it still happens now, but I know how to deal with it - I know whose opinions count.
Quote examples
Nancy Kress
American Writer
Words change over time. 'Condescending,' for instance, was once a good thing to be. It meant that a person was willing to interact politely with people of lower social ranks. In Jane Austen's world, a lady praised for her condescension was receiving a sincere compliment.
Quote examples
Heather Mac Donald
American Editor
It is not the case that I can predict your views knowing that you are a white male. I cannot predict your views if you are a black female, and it is height of both arrogance and condescension to think that somebody can be type casted on the base of.
Quote examples
Sayed Kashua
Israeli Author
There's a lot of hypocrisy and condescension in Israel's institutionalized support for Mubarak's tyrannical rule, in its backing of a corrupt leader who established a brutal secret police state to suppress his citizens and keep their mouths shut.
Quote examples
Euzhan Palcy
Director
When I started out, there were three things that made film people look at me with condescension, I was young, I was black, and I was female. I have won a certain respect, but I think the film community still sees directing as a male job.
Quote examples
Sarah Weinman
American Journalist
Laura' was overtly political for sure. Caspary was trying to make a point about women and independence and how men viewed them, with derision or condescension or on a pedestal, when the real person was ignored.
Quote examples
Paul Romer
American Economist
The thing that was bad about colonialism, and the thing which is residually bad in some of our aid programs, is that it involved elements of coercion and condescension.
Quote examples
Stella Young
Australian Comedian
We are a society that treats people with disabilities with condescension and pity, not dignity and respect.
Quote examples
Phillips Brooks
American Clergyman
Jesus Christ, the condescension of divinity, and the exaltation of humanity.
Example 1 of 10
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