condescension

/ˌkɒndɪˈsenʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkɑːndɪˈsenʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkän-di-ˈsen(t)-shən/ (ame, mw)

condescension — noun

1. the way of speaking or acting that makes other people feel you see yourself as s

1.名詞C1
釋義

the way of speaking or acting that makes other people feel you see yourself as smarter, better, or more important than they are.

例句

Yuki could hear the condescension in her manager's voice when he explained the simple task again.

hear + condescension + in someone's voice

The waiter treated the elderly couple with open condescension, speaking slowly and loudly as if they were children.

treat + with condescension

同義詞
  • patronage

    rare in this sense; usually means financial support instead

  • haughtiness

    stronger; emphasises cold pride rather than fake friendliness

  • superiority

    neutral feeling of being above others; condescension is the visible behaviour

  • snobbery

    more specific to looking down on people of lower class or taste

反義詞

文法句型

with + condescension

show + condescension

用法筆記

Frequently used with verbs of perception (hear, sense, detect) and possessive phrases (her condescension, his condescension), describing a tone or attitude rather than a single act.

常見錯誤

❌He gave me a condescension.
✅He treated me with condescension.
💡the noun is uncountable; you cannot pluralise it or pair it with 'a'.

2. the act of a person of high rank or status stepping down to be friendly or kind

2.名詞C2
釋義

the act of a person of high rank or status stepping down to be friendly or kind to someone of much lower position, often used in older or polite writing.

例句

It was a great condescension for the queen to share tea with the village schoolteacher.

condescension + for someone + to-infinitive

Aylin thanked the famous author for her condescension in answering a long fan letter from a stranger.

condescension in + V-ing

同義詞
  • graciousness

    more common modern equivalent; lacks the rank implication

  • affability

    warmth toward those of lower status; close formal match

  • magnanimity

    generous behaviour from a position of strength or status

反義詞
  • aloofness

    refusing to engage with people seen as below one's rank

文法句型

condescension + to-infinitive

condescension + of someone

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is positive or neutral and chiefly survives in formal, religious, or historical writing. Modern speakers usually hear sense 1 first, so context (rank, polite framing) is needed to signal this older meaning.

常見錯誤

❌She showed condescension to the children at the party.
✅She kindly joined the children at the party.
💡modern readers will read sense 1 (rude superiority) unless the rank context is very clear.