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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
Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Milwaukee School Board members have rebuffed interest from a private school, Pius XI Catholic High School, which had explored the idea of building an outdoor sports complex at a nearby public park run by the school district.
—Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Russia has long rebuffed Ukraine’s public advocacy for NATO membership, arguing that the Western alliance, which is a defensive alliance, is moving too far east.
—Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 15 Dec. 2025
The foundation said its efforts to broker a truce have been rebuffed or ignored by Larson and other city and law enforcement officials.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 13 Dec. 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 20 Dec. 2025.
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