Paternalistic
adjective
Behaving in a way that shows you know what is best for others, similar to how a father guides his child.
The company's paternalistic attitude towards its employees is often criticized.
Often appears as...
- paternalistic attitude
- paternalistic approach
Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
adjective
Behaving in a way that shows you know what is best for others, similar to how a father guides his child.
The company's paternalistic attitude towards its employees is often criticized.
Often appears as...
- paternalistic attitude
- paternalistic approach
Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Condescending Tone
Using 'paternalistic' can imply that someone is talking down to others, as though they're children.
His paternalistic tone made the staff feel undervalued.
Pro Tip 2/3Implicit Control
The word often suggests someone is imposing their will or decisions on others, even if they believe it's for the other's benefit.
The manager's paternalistic decision didn't allow any room for debate.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Sensitivity
'Paternalistic' can be seen as a negative judgment of certain cultural norms, so use it cautiously.
A paternalistic approach in a culturally diverse workplace can cause friction.
Pro Tip 1/3Condescending Tone
Using 'paternalistic' can imply that someone is talking down to others, as though they're children.
His paternalistic tone made the staff feel undervalued.
Pro Tip 2/3Implicit Control
The word often suggests someone is imposing their will or decisions on others, even if they believe it's for the other's benefit.
The manager's paternalistic decision didn't allow any room for debate.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Sensitivity
'Paternalistic' can be seen as a negative judgment of certain cultural norms, so use it cautiously.
A paternalistic approach in a culturally diverse workplace can cause friction.
Pro Tip 1/3Condescending Tone
Using 'paternalistic' can imply that someone is talking down to others, as though they're children.
His paternalistic tone made the staff feel undervalued.
Pro Tip 2/3Implicit Control
The word often suggests someone is imposing their will or decisions on others, even if they believe it's for the other's benefit.
The manager's paternalistic decision didn't allow any room for debate.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Sensitivity
'Paternalistic' can be seen as a negative judgment of certain cultural norms, so use it cautiously.
A paternalistic approach in a culturally diverse workplace can cause friction.
Never forget "Paternalistic"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Poverty isn't a lack of...
to people we have never met. And we should get rid of the vast industry of paternalistic bureaucrats when we could simply hand over their salaries to the poor they're supposed to help. Because, I mean, the great thing about money
Video examples
Freak Show Performers PIPE...
people who have strong feelings about the way people who have disabilities should be treated might react in a very negative way towards freak shows we get paternalistic we're gonna save them and
Video examples
Want to help someone?...
colonialist missionaries and there are only two ways we deal with people we are the patronize them or we are paternalistic the two words come from
Video examples
Poverty isn't a lack of...
to people we have never met. And we should get rid of the vast industry of paternalistic bureaucrats when we could simply hand over their salaries to the poor they're supposed to help. Because, I mean, the great thing about money
Video examples
Freak Show Performers PIPE...
people who have strong feelings about the way people who have disabilities should be treated might react in a very negative way towards freak shows we get paternalistic we're gonna save them and
Video examples
Want to help someone?...
colonialist missionaries and there are only two ways we deal with people we are the patronize them or we are paternalistic the two words come from
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Leila Janah
American Businesswoman
I think part of the problem with charity is that it tends to make us view people as helpless victims. I think in the future, we'll look back on charity in the same way that we look back on colonialism today: as a very paternalistic system that doesn't fully recognise the full spectrum of humanity.
Quote examples
Jeff Goodell
American Author
The relevant questions now are: How do we move beyond coal? How do we bring new jobs to the coal fields and retrain coal miners for other work? How do we inspire entrepreneurialism and self-reliance in people whose lives have been dependent on the paternalistic coal industry?
Quote examples
Campbell Brown
American Journalist
My mom was very much the product of a very paternalistic, deep-southern culture, but also a repressed feminist. Her way of being defiant was to raise us to be rebellious ourselves - basically, the opposite of who she had to be in her own life.
Quote examples
Denise Dresser
Mexican Educator
In Latin America, many people live with outstretched hands. Throughout the hemisphere, paternalistic governments accustom people to receiving just enough to survive instead of participating in society.
Quote examples
Michel Faber
Dutch Writer
Modern politicians like Cameron dream of exerting paternal influence without being seen as paternalistic, of fostering moral behaviour without being considered moralistic.
Quote examples
Gary Hamel
American Businessman
Building human-centered organizations doesn't imply a return to the paternalistic, corporate welfare practices of the 19th century. Most of us don't want to be nannied.
Quote examples
Andrew Lansley
British Politician
There's a culture inside the NHS that is highly paternalistic. You know, 'We give them the service and they are grateful.' We have to move to shared decision-making.
Quote examples
Ronald Lauder
American Businessman
I don't think there's anything wrong with being paternalistic as a company. We are very paternalistic. We have a very good health plan - we take care of people.
Quote examples
Cyd Charisse
American Actress
A lot of people resented MGM because it could be very paternalistic but for me, the experience was very good.
Quote examples
Leonard Lauder
American Businessman
I don't think there's anything wrong with being paternalistic as a company.
Quote examples
Leila Janah
American Businesswoman
I think part of the problem with charity is that it tends to make us view people as helpless victims. I think in the future, we'll look back on charity in the same way that we look back on colonialism today: as a very paternalistic system that doesn't fully recognise the full spectrum of humanity.
Quote examples
Jeff Goodell
American Author
The relevant questions now are: How do we move beyond coal? How do we bring new jobs to the coal fields and retrain coal miners for other work? How do we inspire entrepreneurialism and self-reliance in people whose lives have been dependent on the paternalistic coal industry?
Quote examples
Campbell Brown
American Journalist
My mom was very much the product of a very paternalistic, deep-southern culture, but also a repressed feminist. Her way of being defiant was to raise us to be rebellious ourselves - basically, the opposite of who she had to be in her own life.
Quote examples
Denise Dresser
Mexican Educator
In Latin America, many people live with outstretched hands. Throughout the hemisphere, paternalistic governments accustom people to receiving just enough to survive instead of participating in society.
Quote examples
Michel Faber
Dutch Writer
Modern politicians like Cameron dream of exerting paternal influence without being seen as paternalistic, of fostering moral behaviour without being considered moralistic.
Quote examples
Gary Hamel
American Businessman
Building human-centered organizations doesn't imply a return to the paternalistic, corporate welfare practices of the 19th century. Most of us don't want to be nannied.
Quote examples
Andrew Lansley
British Politician
There's a culture inside the NHS that is highly paternalistic. You know, 'We give them the service and they are grateful.' We have to move to shared decision-making.
Quote examples
Ronald Lauder
American Businessman
I don't think there's anything wrong with being paternalistic as a company. We are very paternalistic. We have a very good health plan - we take care of people.
Quote examples
Cyd Charisse
American Actress
A lot of people resented MGM because it could be very paternalistic but for me, the experience was very good.
Quote examples
Leonard Lauder
American Businessman
I don't think there's anything wrong with being paternalistic as a company.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension