condescend

/ˌkɑndɪˈsɛnd/
verb
  1. To act as if you are better or more important than someone else, often by being overly kind or helpful in a way that shows you think you are superior.
    • Please don't condescend to me; I understand the instructions perfectly.
    • She didn't like how he condescended to her during the meeting.
    • The manager condescended to explain the simple task to the new employee as if talking to a child.
  2. To do something that you think is below your social or professional level, often in a gracious or generous way.
    • She rarely condescends to answer emails from strangers.
    • The prince condescended to dine with the commoners at the festival.
    • The famous author condescended to sign books for his fans after the reading.
Antonyms