1
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something
he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nude
the state of having no clothes on one's body
protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buff
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction
she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
the janitor buffed the lobby floor until it shone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of buff
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2025
Movie buffs will appreciate Dolby Vision IQ’s cinematic punch, and casual users can simply unbox, sign in, and start streaming in minutes.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2025
The same method as cleaning linoleum works for buffing scratches or scuffs out of patent leather, soft white leather, sneaker midsoles, or vinyl.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
Noun
Theater buffs will appreciate the sturdy traditional musical theater numbers, from ballads to novelty songs.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2025
Movie buffs will appreciate Dolby Vision IQ’s cinematic punch, and casual users can simply unbox, sign in, and start streaming in minutes.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
While fine-grade steel wool should never be used on indoor appliances and countertops, some outdoor stainless steel items can withstand a light buffing with the material.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2025
The same method as cleaning linoleum works for buffing scratches or scuffs out of patent leather, soft white leather, sneaker midsoles, or vinyl.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
Noun
-
About 75 members of the group will perform in the coming week at three churches in Broward County before taking a summer break and then inviting fellow music lovers to audition in August.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
13 May 2025
-
In just a few days, Morgan Wallen's inaugural Sand in My Boots festival will be underway on the beaches of the Gulf Shores, Alabama, bringing country music lovers together for fun in the sun.—
Daniela Avila,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
Gisele Bündchen’s steamy bronze glow in 1999 was just as prescient, elevating bombshell nudes into the gold standard of summer makeup.—
Sophie Schulte-Hillen,
Vogue,
2 May 2025
-
While the season is often filled with soft pastels (hi, lavender milk nails) and shimmery nudes, some celebs have decided to go in a different direction this season.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
To reduce the risk of sticking or sacrificing any of your fish to the flames, rub the grill grates generously and preheat the grill well in advance.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2025
-
The project has been anchored by the relentless efforts of Wood and Orr, experts in rubbing elbows and working a crowd and the phones.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
11 May 2025
Verb
-
Polish with Microfiber Cloth Use a microfiber cloth to polish the mirror after squeegeeing.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 May 2025
-
Instead of replacing her creativity, AI amplified it by providing structured and consistent feedback, giving her more time to polish her jokes.—
Jeanne Beatrix Law,
The Conversation,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
For households seeking more cooling options, the lineup at Della home appliance also includes window AC units, portable ACs, central air systems, and a new tower fan set to launch in May.—
Jon Stojan,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
-
Josh Hartnett’s kids were not fans of the hair transformation that their dad underwent for his new film, Fight or Flight.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
This is a major project that requires dismantling, sanding, stripping, and prepping cabinets properly for the best-looking results.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Corbet’s real crush is on the 1990s and 2000s products of high-end, coffee-table-book designers such as Tadao Ando or Peter Zumthor, who favoured singular, funeral monuments, with an obsessive sanding away of brutalism’s rugged surfaces.—
Matt Shaw,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The Red Sox may be hoping a similar meeting in Kansas City can smooth things over with their star player.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
-
Her super long ponytail, which was teased and smoothed with Tangle Teezer’s Ultimate Detangler Chrome, is not-so-rudely interrupted by tiers of bulbous rings of red hair.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
5 May 2025
Noun
-
The Vulcan system consists of a conventional robotic arm with a custom spatula-like appendage for poking into a shelf and a sucker for grabbing items to pull them out.—
Will Knight,
Wired News,
7 May 2025
-
At a time when the world seems increasingly divided into winners and losers, exploiters and suckers, Henry Johnson speaks with sardonic eloquence to our current moment in American life.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share