Definition

1. Verb:
   • To behave as if one is superior to others; to patronize: To act in a way that shows you believe you are more intelligent or important than someone else, often while appearing to be kind or helpful.
   • To do something that one considers beneath one's dignity or status: To agree to do something you think is unworthy of you, often with a feeling of superiority.
   • (Archaic) To descend voluntarily to the level of one considered inferior: To willingly lower oneself, especially in rank or dignity, to interact with others.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The manager never condescends to listen to the interns' ideas. (He behaves as if their ideas are not worth his attention.)
  • She felt the author was condescending to his readers by oversimplifying complex topics. (The author treated the readers as if they were not intelligent enough.)
  • He wouldn't even condescend to acknowledge my presence in the room. (He considered it beneath him to say hello to me.)

Advanced Usage

• "condescend to do something": To reluctantly agree to do something considered menial or unworthy.
  • After much pleading, she finally condescended to attend the meeting.
• "condescend to someone": To interact with someone in a patronizing manner.
  • He speaks to the staff in a way that condescends to them, as if they were children.

Variants and Related Words

• Condescending (adj): Showing or characterized by a patronizing or superior attitude.
  • His condescending tone made everyone in the room uncomfortable.
• Condescension (n): An attitude of patronizing superiority; disdain.
  • Her offer to help was filled with such condescension that it was insulting.

Synonyms

• Patronize: To treat with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority.
• Deign: To do something that one considers beneath one's dignity (often used with "to").
• Stoop: To lower one's moral standards or dignity to do something.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Stoop to (doing) something: To lower one's ethical or behavioral standards to engage in an activity. This is a close synonym in the context of doing something considered degrading.
  • I refuse to stoop to their level of personal insults. (This implies a refusal to condescend to act in a similarly undignified way.)

Related Idioms

• Talk down to someone: To speak to someone as if they are less intelligent or knowledgeable than you. This is a specific verbal form of condescension.
  • The professor always talks down to his undergraduate students.

Verb

1. treat condescendingly
2. debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way
   • I won't stoop to reading other people's mail
3. do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
4. behave in a patronizing and condescending manner