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Showing results for paternalism. Search instead for paternalis.
Definitions

paternalism

[puh-tur-nl-iz-uhm] / pəˈtɜr nlˌɪz əm /
NOUN
patronizing
Synonyms
Antonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cooper said there is a need for "partnership not paternalism", with the UK seeking to be "an investor not just a donor" to help other countries "attract finance, not be dependent on aid".

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

"The decision to end life must rest with the patient," he argued, adding that medical paternalism long ago took a back seat in Canada.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

He calls this insistence “choice-requiring paternalism,” a phrase meant to throw the charge of paternalism back at the libertarians.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

This optimism about the impact on technology on free speech was totally absent from Wednesday’s arguments, replaced by paternalism and technophobia.

From Slate • Jan. 15, 2025

For many African American voters, the Populist approach was preferable to the paternalism of liberals.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander




Vocabulary lists containing paternalism