Condescension (Noun)
Meaning 1
Affability to your inferiors and temporary disregard for differences of position or rank; "the queen's condescension was intended to make us feel comfortable".
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- The royal family's condescension towards the common folk was evident in their willingness to engage with them directly during the official visit.
- Her condescension towards the new interns made them feel more at ease, despite being the CEO of the company.
- The noble's condescension was a rare gesture, as he usually kept to himself and rarely interacted with the villagers.
- The celebrity's condescension towards her fans was seen as a refreshing change from the usual aloofness of Hollywood stars.
- The monarch's condescension was a calculated move to win over the hearts of the people and boost her popularity ratings.
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Meaning 2
A communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The politician's condescension was evident in her tone as she explained the simple concepts to her audience, talking down to them as if they were children.
- Her manager's condescension was infuriating, speaking to her in a slow and deliberate tone, as if she wouldn't understand anything more complex.
- The professor's condescension was palpable as he lectured the students, using overly simplistic language and examples to explain basic concepts.
- The tech support representative's condescension was maddening, explaining basic troubleshooting steps to a frustrated customer as if they had never used a computer before.
- The condescension in her voice was clear as she told her assistant to "just try again" when the problem was clearly beyond their control.
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Meaning 3
The trait of displaying arrogance by patronizing those considered inferior.
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- She spoke to the young intern with condescension, as if explaining basic concepts to a child.
- His condescension towards the maintenance staff was particularly galling, given his own mediocrity in his role.
- The wealthy investor's condescension towards the small business owners was clear in the way he lectured them on basic economics.
- The politician's response to the question was laced with condescension, talking down to the constituents as if they were simple-minded.
- The professor's condescension towards the students was notorious, often resulting in embarrassed silence in the classroom.