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Many English verbs begin with the prefix re-, meaning “again” or “backward,” so we wouldn’t criticize you for drawing a connection between rebuff and buff, a verb meaning “to polish or shine.” But rebuff would beg to differ: this word comes to us from the Middle French verb rebuffer, which traces back to the Old Italian ribuffare, meaning “to reprimand.” (Buff, in contrast, comes from the Middle French noun buffle, meaning “wild ox”). A similar word, rebuke, shares the “criticize” sense of rebuff, but not the “reject” sense; one can rebuke another’s actions or policies, but one does not rebuke the advances of another, for example. Like rebuke, rebuff can also be used as a noun, as in “The proposal was met with a stern rebuff from the Board of Trustees.”
Examples of rebuff in a Sentence
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Strategists say no Several strategists rebuffed the idea that candidate quality played a large role in the New Jersey race, compared to Virginia.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
The company formally put itself on the block last month after rebuffing three offers from Paramount.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Andrew Harnik / Getty Images Kim has also rebuffed overtures from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who favors greater engagement with the North than his conservative predecessor.
—Stella Kim, NBC news, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebuff
Cite this Entry
“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebuff. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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