What is patronizing in simple terms?
speaking or behaving toward someone as if they are stupid or not important: It's that patronizing tone of hers that I can't bear. Synonyms. arrogant. conceited disapproving.
Some common synonyms of enough are adequate, competent, and sufficient.
If someone is patronizing, they speak or behave toward you in a way that seems friendly, but that shows that they think they are superior to you. [disapproval]
Telling Someone that they Always or Never do Something
Saying things like “You always make that mistake” or “You never do things properly” is extremely patronizing. It makes the other person feel like a complete failure and by putting them down like that, they are actually more likely to act in that way.
"Condescending" and "patronizing" are synonyms and therefore can typically be used interchangeably. Condescending - "having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority." Patronizing - "apparently kind or helpful but betraying a feeling of superiority; condescending."
People have a patronizing attitude and exhibit condescending behavior for different reasons, but usually, it boils down to insecurity and/or arrogance. Yes, you can definitely be arrogant and insecure at the same time. Here, we point out some behaviors people say that typically don't land well and foster negativity.
The related verb patronize can either be positive or negative. In the positive sense to patronize means to be a patron or a customer to a business. In the negative sense, patronize means to talk down to someone.
There are several reasons why people condescend. These includes: They make themselves the focus of attention and feel superior. Their insecurity is so overwhelming that they need to put themselves above the people around them.
- amiss.
- bad.
- damaged.
- deficient.
- disappointing.
- disconcerting.
- displeasing.
- disquieting.
enough comes after adjectives and adverbs. I'm not tall enough to reach the top shelf. Your marks are good enough to study engineering at university. I couldn't write quickly enough and I ran out of time.
Is enough formal or informal?
Remember, 'enough' as well is considered informal and the formal term for it is 'sufficient'.
Using “Yeah, Right” And Other Sarcastic Phrases
It's simple: Making sarcastic comments like “yeah, right,” “whatever,” “really,” and “pfft” are subtle, condescending ways to say, “You're lying” or “I don't believe you know that.” “It's very cutting,” Crossman says. Not to mention they offer no insight.

Ignoring the perpetrator is often the best approach. If you don't give them the satisfaction of knowing that they have irritated you, they might simply stop being condescending. Selective deafness is always an option. One suggestion made to an online forum was to ask the offender to repeat themselves over and again.
- Don't Take it Personally. First and foremost, keep calm and carry on, as they say. ...
- Call Him on It. ...
- Neutralize Your Body Language. ...
- Ask for Clarification.
speaking or behaving towards someone as if they are stupid or not important: It's that patronizing tone of hers that I can't bear. Synonyms. arrogant. conceited disapproving.
He hated being patronized and pitied by those who didn't believe his story. “I'm sure you did your best even though you failed.” “Please don't patronize.” I patronize the library regularly.
Patronize comes from Latin patronus "protector, master," related to pater "father." So if you patronize a person, you talk down to them like a father might do to his child or a master to his apprentice.
When it refers to being a customer or patron, patronize is usually positive. When it refers to treating a person in a condescending way, it's always negative.
- Learn what they think or feel instead of presuming to know. ...
- Check our motives before we speak. ...
- Ask permission to help before we give advice or a helping hand — regardless of our motives. ...
- Be helpful in a way that the other person will value.
To patronize someone in a condescending way is to treat them as if they're in need of extra help because they're not capable by themselves. This is often done with a patronizing tone. Condescending and patronizing are often used as synonyms, but they can have slightly different shades of meaning.
What is another word for not valued enough?
underestimate. verb. to think that someone has less power or ability than they really have.
- decent.
- dull.
- inferior.
- middling.
- ordinary.
- second-rate.
- so-so.
- undistinguished.
unsatisfactory | inadequate |
---|---|
uninteresting | ineffective |
pitiful | anticlimactic |
disillusioning | dissatisfying |
deplorable | unsuitable |
Enough is an adjective that describes something that is adequate for an intended purpose. Enough is also used as an adverb to mean sufficiently or fully.
You are enough means that you don't have to strive to become more worthy, more valid, more acceptable, or more loved. You already are all of those things.
She is old enough to live on her own. She didn't work hard enough to pass the test. We aren't rich enough to buy a car. Some tablet computers are small enough to fit inside your pocket.
Enough is used in negative sentences to mean less than sufficient or less than necessary. You're not working fast enough, you won't finish on time. Sorry, I haven't got enough food for everyone. Not enough of my friends are coming to the party.
sufficient Add to list Share. If you have a sufficient amount of something, it's enough — not too much, not too little, just right.
synonyms for do well enough
cope. get along. get on. prosper. subsist.
Calmly and professionally call out the patronizing person without without making a scene or being dramatic by pointedly yet politely saying, “Gee, that comment sounded a bit condescending to me. Mind dropping the attitude?” Hopefully, he takes you up on the do-over opportunity.
How do you say well done without being condescending?
- I'm proud you're on my team.
- Congratulations on a terrific job.
- You're so helpful. Thank you.
- You continually improve. Well done.
- Thanks so much for your consistent effort.
- I really admire your perseverance.
- Your cheerful mood lifts the team's spirit.
- You're a champion.
Examples of condescending behavior include acting as if you know everything and are not open to new ideas, reacting to an upset with “well, that's never happened to me”, offering unsolicited advice (unless you are a supervisor), not being open to feedback, referring to people in the group in the third person (even if ...
If you say that someone is condescending, you are showing your disapproval of the fact that they talk or behave in a way which shows that they think they are superior to other people. I'm fed up with your money and your whole condescending attitude.
Chronic use of sarcasm, cynicism, and patronizing comments spreads negativity and is a sign of passive-aggressive behavior.
- For example, you might say something like, "I feel sad when you talk to me in that tone of voice." Or, "I feel angry when you undermine my intelligence."
- Avoid saying that your spouse makes you feel a certain way because this phrasing may put your spouse on the defensive.
When we feel like we're being patronized by our partners, it can be very hurtful and upsetting for us. We feel like we are being put down and dismissed by our partners and it can destroy our self-esteem and self-confidence. Oftentimes, partners don't treat you the way you deserve to be treated.
- They think they're more intelligent. ...
- They treat you as if you were inferior. ...
- They hardly listen to others. ...
- They always put themselves first. ...
- They always act like they're superior. ...
- They'll never apologize for anything they say or do. ...
- They'll never talk about how their own life is going or other personal issues.
A subtle form of bullying, being patronised can leave you feeling infuriated and impotent. It's a type of behaviour that cuts across generations. An older person can talk down to a younger colleague, but it can just as easily happen the other way around. Men can patronise women at work and vice versa.
Implies superiority; patronising.
The phrase "I'm proud of you" insinuates that the speaker (parent, teacher, co-worker, boss) has more experience, or power, or in some manner has the right to pronounce their opinion, on someone else's effort. The effect of this praise might be opposite to the aim of the parent.
It could mean literally "to go or come down" or, figuratively, "to willingly lower oneself to another's level," senses that are still occasionally encountered in writings on the Bible. The idea of self-consciously lowering oneself is implied in the "patronizing" sense of condescending.
How do you respond to someone patronizing you?
- Don't Take it Personally. First and foremost, keep calm and carry on, as they say. ...
- Call Him on It. ...
- Neutralize Your Body Language. ...
- Ask for Clarification.
To patronize someone in a condescending way is to treat them as if they're in need of extra help because they're not capable by themselves. This is often done with a patronizing tone. Condescending and patronizing are often used as synonyms, but they can have slightly different shades of meaning.