Literary authors employ "patronizing" to evoke a tone of condescension and faux benevolence, often revealing a character’s assumption of superior knowledge or social station. The term is frequently used in dialogue or descriptive narration to highlight subtle or overt gestures—such as a dismissive nod or a self-important wave—that serve to belittle others while cloaked in civility [1][2]. Such usage underlines a critical commentary on societal hierarchies, where even seemingly courteous behavior is tinged with disdain, as when a simple smile or a well-meant remark carries an undercurrent of scorn [3][4]. In this way, the word becomes a powerful literary tool for exposing the contradictions between outward civility and the underlying assertion of authority or superiority [5][6].