condescend

/,kɔndi'send/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
condescend

The manager condescends to explain the simple task to the new employee.

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.
condescend

The manager condescends to explain the simple task to the new employee.

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

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