[General] Patronize vs Condescend

[gurpreetgill4u]

What is the difference between "patronizing" and "condescending"?
Which one is less offensive?

Thanks for help.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Have you consulted dictionaries?

 

[gurpreetgill4u]

Yes,I did.
But I am confused about whether to use patronize if someone pretends to go along with my idea even if their tone suggest they are making fun of me.
For me being condescending means someone who does not go along with your idea and person is quite upfront about it by suggesting a better idea.For example when someone dumb something down for you.

I want to know what kind of tone suggest condescension and what patronizing?

 

[MikeNewYork]

There is a lot of overlap between the words. But your differentiation is pretty good. Patronizing is often sounding supportive, but not meaning it. Condescending is often not even trying to sound supportive. Both words suggest a feeling of superiority.

 

[Skrej]

Note that 'patronize' can have a positive meaning as well, meaning to support a business as a customer, or to provide aid or support (especially financial), particularly to artists.

'Condescend' doesn't have any positive meanings.