Patronize
verb
To give support or regularly visit a store, restaurant, or public facility.
She always patronizes the local grocery store.
Often appears as...
- patronize a store
- patronize a restaurant
Usage tips
Formal
verb
Treat in a way that is apparently kind or helpful but betraying a feeling of superiority.
She hates it when adults patronize her.
Often appears as...
- patronize someone
- patronize attitude
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
verb
To give support or regularly visit a store, restaurant, or public facility.
She always patronizes the local grocery store.
Often appears as...
- patronize a store
- patronize a restaurant
Usage tips
Formal
verb
Treat in a way that is apparently kind or helpful but betraying a feeling of superiority.
She hates it when adults patronize her.
Often appears as...
- patronize someone
- patronize attitude
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Positive Context
Used when someone supports businesses by buying or using their services frequently.
Many locals patronize the family-owned café downtown.
Pro Tip 2/3Loyalty Implication
Implies loyalty or preference for a particular place over time.
Despite the competition, he continues to patronize the old bookstore.
Pro Tip 3/3Frequency Hint
Suggests a recurring action rather than a one-time visit.
She patronizes the farmer's market every weekend.
Pro Tip 1/3Positive Context
Used when someone supports businesses by buying or using their services frequently.
Many locals patronize the family-owned café downtown.
Pro Tip 2/3Loyalty Implication
Implies loyalty or preference for a particular place over time.
Despite the competition, he continues to patronize the old bookstore.
Pro Tip 3/3Frequency Hint
Suggests a recurring action rather than a one-time visit.
She patronizes the farmer's market every weekend.
Pro Tip 1/3Positive Context
Used when someone supports businesses by buying or using their services frequently.
Many locals patronize the family-owned café downtown.
Pro Tip 2/3Loyalty Implication
Implies loyalty or preference for a particular place over time.
Despite the competition, he continues to patronize the old bookstore.
Pro Tip 3/3Frequency Hint
Suggests a recurring action rather than a one-time visit.
She patronizes the farmer's market every weekend.
Compare with
belittlecondescenddisparagehumiliateoverbearingscorntalk down tounderestimate
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Video examples
Ze Frank's web playroom
But the truth was that as this start becoming popular, a couple rightwing blogs and some message boards apparently found it to be a little patronizing, which I could also see. And so I started getting amazing amounts of hate mail, death threats even. And one guy in particular kept on writing me these pretty awful messages,
Video examples
History vs. Henry VIII -...
who allowed faction and intrigue to rule his court, concerned only with his own pleasure and grandiosity. That grandiosity was part of the king’s role as a model for his people. He was a learned scholar and musician who generously patronized the arts, as well as being an imposing warrior and sportsman.
Video examples
The energy Africa needs...
Working in global energy and development, I often hear people say, "Because of climate, we just can't afford for everyone to live our lifestyles." That viewpoint is worse than patronizing. It's a form of racism, and it's creating a two-tier, global energy system with energy abundance for the rich
Video examples
Would winning the...
where the experimenters made some players rich quickly. The wealthy players started patronizing the poorer players and hogging the snacks they were meant to share. But just because a huge influx of cash isn't guaranteed to bring joy into your life
Video examples
How does income affect...
and on occasion, it can be somewhat patronizing for scientists to swoop in and tell a family what they need to change in order for their child to succeed. So I want to share an idea with you. What if we tried to help young children in poverty
Video examples
Caring for Coral PIPE...
thrives around this coral head often patronized by the tiger grouper tiny gobies fearlessly entered the Tigers mouth to feed on dead tissue and parasites but just as the reef Foster's life it can harbour danger lurking on
Video examples
Want to help someone?...
patronizing that we arrive and tell you what to do and so what I did in esperance that first year was to just walk the streets and in the in in three days I had my first client and I helped
Video examples
What forgiveness can...
guilt is a luxury we think the first stage of forgiveness is tolerance today tolerance has fallen out of fashion it's considered neutral at best and patronizing at worst Torrance is a
Video examples
Chimamanda Ngozi...
Her default position toward me, as an African, was a kind of patronizing, well-meaning pity. My roommate had a single story of a single story of catastrophe. In this single story,
Video examples
Ernesto Sirolli: Want to...
We Western people are imperialist, colonialist missionaries, and there are only two ways we deal with We either patronize them, or we are paternalistic.
Video examples
Ze Frank's web playroom
But the truth was that as this start becoming popular, a couple rightwing blogs and some message boards apparently found it to be a little patronizing, which I could also see. And so I started getting amazing amounts of hate mail, death threats even. And one guy in particular kept on writing me these pretty awful messages,
Video examples
History vs. Henry VIII -...
who allowed faction and intrigue to rule his court, concerned only with his own pleasure and grandiosity. That grandiosity was part of the king’s role as a model for his people. He was a learned scholar and musician who generously patronized the arts, as well as being an imposing warrior and sportsman.
Video examples
The energy Africa needs...
Working in global energy and development, I often hear people say, "Because of climate, we just can't afford for everyone to live our lifestyles." That viewpoint is worse than patronizing. It's a form of racism, and it's creating a two-tier, global energy system with energy abundance for the rich
Video examples
Would winning the...
where the experimenters made some players rich quickly. The wealthy players started patronizing the poorer players and hogging the snacks they were meant to share. But just because a huge influx of cash isn't guaranteed to bring joy into your life
Video examples
How does income affect...
and on occasion, it can be somewhat patronizing for scientists to swoop in and tell a family what they need to change in order for their child to succeed. So I want to share an idea with you. What if we tried to help young children in poverty
Video examples
Caring for Coral PIPE...
thrives around this coral head often patronized by the tiger grouper tiny gobies fearlessly entered the Tigers mouth to feed on dead tissue and parasites but just as the reef Foster's life it can harbour danger lurking on
Video examples
Want to help someone?...
patronizing that we arrive and tell you what to do and so what I did in esperance that first year was to just walk the streets and in the in in three days I had my first client and I helped
Video examples
What forgiveness can...
guilt is a luxury we think the first stage of forgiveness is tolerance today tolerance has fallen out of fashion it's considered neutral at best and patronizing at worst Torrance is a
Video examples
Chimamanda Ngozi...
Her default position toward me, as an African, was a kind of patronizing, well-meaning pity. My roommate had a single story of a single story of catastrophe. In this single story,
Video examples
Ernesto Sirolli: Want to...
We Western people are imperialist, colonialist missionaries, and there are only two ways we deal with We either patronize them, or we are paternalistic.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Mark Pincus
American Businessman
I just don't feel respected in the political process as a large donor or as a citizen voter. I just feel patronized. Everything I get is like, 'Hey, you couldn't possibly - it's too complex and sophisticated what really goes on,' and, 'Hey, leave it to us, and we will go and represent you and fight the good fight, and just give us money.
Quote examples
Magnus Scheving
Icelander Writer
The worst mistake you can make with children is to talk to them in a condescending, patronising way and think that you can teach them something. You have to understand that it is you who will be learning from them. You have to get into their world and see things from their perspective.
Quote examples
Salman Khan
Indian Actor
People are patronizing the theatres with renewed enthusiasm - there is an entire picnic-like attitude when families go out to see movies, which is a very good sign. They want to see larger-than-life characters on the big screen and not just watch movies on television or on DVDs.
Quote examples
Billy Connolly
Scottish Comedian
Once you become successful, people know where you live, the type of house you live in, the kind of car you drive, the clothes you wear, and so it would be patronising to go and talk like a welder. Welding's a mystery to me now. You can't go back, your life changes every day.
Quote examples
Joshua Oppenheimer
British Director
In documentary filmmaking, there's a tradition of telling stories about victims. We often do that from a very patronizing place, but mostly we do it from a very selfish place, to reassure ourselves that our lives are in sympathy and solidarity with the victims.
Quote examples
Jed Mercurio
British Writer
It's important that the actor doesn't feel like they're working in a vacuum. If the actor is told, 'Oh, it's a secret; just play it this way or that way,' it's a bit patronising. I think you have to bring the actor into your thinking and explain things.
Quote examples
Sallie Patrick
American Producer
There are certainly young people who are very aware of what's going on in this country, and we want to treat that with respect. We don't want to patronize our audience by just talking about the frivolousness. It's a balance.
Quote examples
Mohamed ElBaradei
Egyptian Scientist
Psychology is as important as substance. If you treat people with respect, they will go out of their way to accommodate you. If you treat them in a patronizing way, they will go out of their way to make your life difficult.
Quote examples
Marianne Williamson
American Author
We tend to lack humility toward love, to patronize it rather than bow before it, to put mundane considerations before the emotional need to hold someone in our arms.
Quote examples
Wendy O. Williams
American Musician
I'm trying to encourage more women to be themselves, rather than what men want them to be. I don't believe in patronizing either sex.
Quote examples
Mark Pincus
American Businessman
I just don't feel respected in the political process as a large donor or as a citizen voter. I just feel patronized. Everything I get is like, 'Hey, you couldn't possibly - it's too complex and sophisticated what really goes on,' and, 'Hey, leave it to us, and we will go and represent you and fight the good fight, and just give us money.
Quote examples
Magnus Scheving
Icelander Writer
The worst mistake you can make with children is to talk to them in a condescending, patronising way and think that you can teach them something. You have to understand that it is you who will be learning from them. You have to get into their world and see things from their perspective.
Quote examples
Salman Khan
Indian Actor
People are patronizing the theatres with renewed enthusiasm - there is an entire picnic-like attitude when families go out to see movies, which is a very good sign. They want to see larger-than-life characters on the big screen and not just watch movies on television or on DVDs.
Quote examples
Billy Connolly
Scottish Comedian
Once you become successful, people know where you live, the type of house you live in, the kind of car you drive, the clothes you wear, and so it would be patronising to go and talk like a welder. Welding's a mystery to me now. You can't go back, your life changes every day.
Quote examples
Joshua Oppenheimer
British Director
In documentary filmmaking, there's a tradition of telling stories about victims. We often do that from a very patronizing place, but mostly we do it from a very selfish place, to reassure ourselves that our lives are in sympathy and solidarity with the victims.
Quote examples
Jed Mercurio
British Writer
It's important that the actor doesn't feel like they're working in a vacuum. If the actor is told, 'Oh, it's a secret; just play it this way or that way,' it's a bit patronising. I think you have to bring the actor into your thinking and explain things.
Quote examples
Sallie Patrick
American Producer
There are certainly young people who are very aware of what's going on in this country, and we want to treat that with respect. We don't want to patronize our audience by just talking about the frivolousness. It's a balance.
Quote examples
Mohamed ElBaradei
Egyptian Scientist
Psychology is as important as substance. If you treat people with respect, they will go out of their way to accommodate you. If you treat them in a patronizing way, they will go out of their way to make your life difficult.
Quote examples
Marianne Williamson
American Author
We tend to lack humility toward love, to patronize it rather than bow before it, to put mundane considerations before the emotional need to hold someone in our arms.
Quote examples
Wendy O. Williams
American Musician
I'm trying to encourage more women to be themselves, rather than what men want them to be. I don't believe in patronizing either sex.
Example 1 of 10
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