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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
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Sinclair, whose unsolicited bid for Scripps was rebuffed, gave back 5% on the year.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
Director Pahlaj Nihalani had also rebuffed Govinda’s claims that he was approached by Cameron for the film in a conversation with PinkVilla.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 26 Dec. 2025
South African officials have sought to improve ties by making concessions, only to be rebuffed by the US.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 19 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 9 Jan. 2026.
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