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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of buff
Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
History buffs and teenagers with an interest in investing, banking, and entrepreneurship will appreciate learning about America's history of discrimination in these industries.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Jan. 2026
Polishing is the process of buffing off the excess wax to create a shine.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for buff
Noun
Pompeii is also nestled along the coast and is a perfect excursion for history buffs.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
History buffs and teenagers with an interest in investing, banking, and entrepreneurship will appreciate learning about America's history of discrimination in these industries.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
The singer, born Cassandra Monique Batie, also colored her waterline with black, buffing gray and brown tones underneath.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Jan. 2026
Polishing is the process of buffing off the excess wax to create a shine.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
Noun
-
The gleaming, cool tones of silver add a timeless aesthetic that brings back fond memories for antique lovers.—
Heather Bien,
Martha Stewart,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The 68th annual Grammys are kicking off the month of love, and all the lovers and haters are tuning in.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Pippa is pretty judgmental about the whole thing, asking why Diana let Stephen take nudes of her in the first place.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Of course, the ambiguous nude’s identity becomes contextualized by the items surrounding it.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After Landfair climbed into Kelly’s lap and rubbed his head — following the precise instructions Sparkle had given her — Kelly eagerly accepted her innocent request.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
-
But this one in particular rubbed him the wrong way.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Set the scene Set on a leafy corner of Recoleta, close enough to the action but removed from the tourist hubbub, Sofitel is polished without being stuffy, the kind of place where everyone looks put-together even at breakfast.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Many are polished enough to appear legitimate at first glance.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For a coach who thinks running the ball is for squares and suckers, that’s not exactly adapting one’s philosophy to fit your personnel.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The multi-hyphenate is a sucker for chunky frames, and the Center Stage style from Peepers fits the bill.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There’s no frontal nudity, for example, in this show, right?—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
There is an extramarital affair and even brief partial nudity.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The department also noted the city will only sand residential streets at the request of Dallas police and Dallas Fire-Rescue to assist with emergency responses.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Before those efforts, crews will continue sanding operations around the city to treat roads this week.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The initial collection will consist of a seamless or smoothing nylon bra, a seamless or shaping nylon brief, and a seamless or shaping nylon short.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Solar energy generation paired with four-hour storage can economically and reliably supply about 15% of system energy by smoothing daily ups and downs.—
Alex Pavlak,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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