buff 1 of 2

noun

ˈbəf How to pronounce buff (audio)
Definition of buffnext
1
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nude
the state of having no clothes on one's body protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buff

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buff

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure the janitor buffed the lobby floor until it shone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of buff
Noun
Cars & Coffee gathering Gillie’s Auto Lounge, a private automotive club, is hosting a series of Cars & Coffee gatherings for car buffs to meet at 3341 Hancock San Diego. — Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026 Bart Bart Starr led the Packers to victories in the first two Super Bowls ever played, making this moniker ideal for football history buffs. — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
Rapinchuk adds that a Magic Eraser is a useful cleaning tool for buffing out scuffs and marks. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 24 Aug. 2026 Start by pushing back your cuticles, lightly buffing your nails, and filing the tips for a nice and tidy canvas. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
  1. lover
  2. nude
  3. rub
  4. polish
  5. sucker
  6. nudity
  7. sand
  8. smooth
Noun
  • The supporting cast is well stocked with character actors who bring humor and pathos to this gaggle of spouses, friends, lovers and bootleggers.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Orr’s trail repairs come at a time when outdoors lovers are feeling particularly protective of public lands.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • There was no shortage of high-octane sensuality, albeit pared down using nudes, champagne and pastels, including baby pink.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • That’s how many options Fwee Lip&Cheek Blurry Pudding Pot has, across nudes, corals, pinks, reds, mauves, and roses.
    — Sarah Han, Allure, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of nude
Verb
  • September 23 – October 22 Money and social plans could rub each other the wrong way today.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Libra September 23 – October 22 Money and social plans could rub each other the wrong way today.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of rub
Verb
  • From tailored and polished to embellished, the skirt became a canvas for personal expression.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In this installment, author Min Jin Lee recounts a factchecking trip to Sydney to polish American Hagwon, the followup to her books Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko.
    — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of polish
Noun
  • These sucker shoots can quickly form a thicket of stems that are unsightly, inherently weak, and prone to storm damage if allowed to mature.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026
  • One was a regional distributor of garbage trucks, street sweepers, and sewer suckers for municipalities.
    — Eric Zwick, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of sucker
Noun
  • Running for 12 seasons, spanning more than a decade, NYPD Blue was famous (and infamous) thanks to its many controversial topics and scenes of nudity.
    — Keith Langston, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026
  • But even some of them might balk at its callow psychology and interminably dull plotting that no amount of gratuitous, unengaging violence or nudity can overcome.
    — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of nudity
Verb
  • The roughly 7,300-square-foot residence has been adapted for contemporary living without completely sanding away what came before.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Bass delves into the ease (or difficulty) of loving people in terms anyone could grasp, sanding down the uniqueness of Cyrus’s viewpoint.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of sand
Verb
  • Beyond attempting to smooth the industry’s many ruffled feathers, Hollywood’s newest mogul must now also wrestle down an astonishing $80 billion in debt accrued as a result of this highly leveraged merger.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers solved this issue by creating a dual processing technique that smooths the material surface and manages how the crystals form.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of smooth

Phrases Containing buff

Browse Nearby Words

buds
buff
buffalo
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Cite this Entry

“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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