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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
Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
There were none at Grand Slam tournaments Valentino’s longtime designer Piccioli announces his departure from the brand after 25 years
Israel’s Netanyahu rebuffs US plea to halt Rafah offensive.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2024
The decision of who will lead NIH is not final until Trump himself announces it, the people cautioned, and the president-elect has sometimes rebuffed his advisers' recommendations.
—Dan Diamond The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 25 Nov. 2024
Per a statement Tuesday from Boutros' attorneys, the hospital board has rebuffed multiple attempts to settle the matter amicably.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rebuff 
Dictionary Entries Near rebuff
Cite this Entry
“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebuff. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.
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