adj · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˈkɔn.dɪ.sɛnd.ɪŋ/
UK:/ˈkɔnˌdi.sɛnd.ɪŋ/
US:/ˌkɑndəˈsɛndɪŋ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛndɪŋ
CMU ARPABET:K AA2 N D IH0 S EH1 N D IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Assuming a tone of superiority, or a patronizing attitude.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Quit talking to me in that condescending tone! You always treat me like a child!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
present participle and gerund of condescend
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
(used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: arch, patronizing, patronising
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
42 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
مُتَعَال
(mutaʕāl)
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Arabic:
اِسْتِعْلَائِيّ
(istiʕlāʔiyy)
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Catalan:
paternalista
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Chinese Mandarin:
傲慢的
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Czech:
blahosklonný
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Danish:
nedladende
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Dutch:
neerbuigend
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Dutch:
aanmatigend
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Dutch:
betuttelend
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Finnish:
ylimielinen
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Finnish:
alentava
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Finnish:
alentuva
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
French:
condescendant
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
French:
infantilisant (infantilizing)
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
German:
herablassend
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Greek:
συγκαταβατικός
(sygkatavatikós)
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Hebrew:
מתנשא
(mitnasé)
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Hungarian:
leereszkedő
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Hungarian:
fölényeskedő
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Hungarian:
fölényes
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Hungarian:
vállveregető
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Japanese:
上目線
(uemesen)
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Japanese:
上から目線
(uekaramesen)
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Latvian:
iecietīgs
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Macedonian:
сни́сходлив
(sníshodliv)
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Macedonian:
на́дмен
(nádmen)
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Norwegian Bokmål:
nedlatende
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Norwegian Nynorsk:
nedlatande
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Polish:
protekcjonalny
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Portuguese:
condescendente
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Portuguese:
paternalista
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Russian:
снисходи́тельный
(snisxodítelʹnyj)
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Scottish Gaelic:
mì-uasal
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Serbo-Croatian:
снисхо̀дљив
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Serbo-Croatian:
snishòdljiv
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Spanish:
condescendiente
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Spanish:
paternalista
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Swedish:
nedlåtande
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Swedish:
von oben
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Thai:
จองหองพองขน
(jong-hŏng pong kŏn)
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Turkish:
aşağılayıcı
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Vietnamese:
trịch thượng
— assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
