condescension

UK/kɒndiˈsɛnʃən/US/kɑndiˈsɛnʃən/

nounC1Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #13,015 of 15,258neutral

Condescension is kindness offered in a way that shows you feel superior. A tone of condescension, sheer condescension, without condescension.

It is worse received than plain rudeness, since the person doing it believes they are being generous. The word once meant graciously coming down to somebody's level and was a compliment, which is how the sting got in.

Definitions of condescension

1nouncondescensionKindness offered in a way that shows you feel superior.C1
“He explained the rules to her slowly, with obvious condescension, as if she were a child.”

condescension is a manner.

Where it comes from

Latin condescensio means a coming down together, from con plus descendere, to descend.

Latin
condēscēnsiō
English, today
condescension

From Latin condēscēnsiō.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

condescension in the wild

In the latter, through insincere, pejorative usage, pity connotes feelings of superiority, condescension, or contempt.
Pity
Bulverism is a rhetorical fallacy that combines circular reasoning, the genetic fallacy and ad hominem with presumption or condescension.
Bulverism
For example, overly loud or high-pitched speech can come across to listeners as overly forceful while slow or nasal speech creates an impression of condescension.
Stilted speech
The phrase has multiple meanings and is used to express genuine sympathy but sometimes pity or as an insult that conveys condescension, derision, or contempt.
Bless your heart

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

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