Did you know?
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
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2026
The institution appealed that ruling, an effort that was also rebuffed Friday evening.
—Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Vorbe tried negotiate to be deported to a third country, the Dominican Republic, in May, but was rebuffed by Dominican authorities.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
Trump has stuck with Pulte as the acting head, rebuffing demands from lawmakers for a more qualified nominee.
—ABC News, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rebuff
Cite this Entry
“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebuff. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy Citation
