Definition of rebuff
transitive verb
:to reject or criticize sharply :snub
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Examples of rebuff in a Sentence
Our suggestion was immediately rebuffed.
The company rebuffed the bid.
She rebuffed him when he asked her for a date.
Recent Examples of rebuff from the Web
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The military has rebuffed similar requests in the past, including a recent effort to rename two streets at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn.
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But the Justice Department rebuffed the Times for its characterization of the memo.
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After being rebuffed by P&G officials this summer, Peltz has taken his quest directly to shareholders with the Monday filing of his definitive proxy and a letter to shareholders.
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This time Mr Modi’s government moved to isolate Pakistan diplomatically, rebuffed behind-the-scenes efforts to calm tensions and sent unprovoked blasts of fire across the Kashmir border.
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So far, her requests have been rebuffed because Republicans have not signed on.
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So far, her requests have been rebuffed because Republicans have not signed on.
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Sheldon rebuffed Kane's recommendation that Colyer be disciplined or fired because of those two cases.
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Rogers also rebuffed critics who questioned his ties to the owners and said some of the allegations were untrue.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rebuff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Occurring frequently in news articles and headlines, rebuff derives (via Middle French rebuffer) from Old Italian ribuffare, meaning "to reprimand," and ultimately from the imitative verb buffare, meaning "to puff." (You might guess that the verb buff, meaning "to polish," is a "buffare" descendant, but it is actually unrelated.) 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 "His proposal was met with a stern rebuff from the Board of Trustees."
Origin and Etymology of rebuff
Middle French rebuffer, from Old Italian ribuffare to reprimand, from ribuffo reprimand
REBUFF Defined for English Language Learners
rebuff
play
verb
Definition of rebuff for English Language Learners
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: to refuse (something, such as an offer or suggestion) in a rude way
REBUFF Defined for Kids
Definition of rebuff for Students
rebuffed;
rebuffing
:to refuse (something) in a sharp or rude way
- His suggestion was rebuffed.
Learn More about rebuff
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See words that rhyme with rebuff Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rebuff Spanish Central: Translation of rebuff Nglish: Translation of rebuff for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rebuff for Arabic speakers
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