rebuff 1 of 2

as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly took her rebuff in stride, and still greeted her cousin with a friendly smile the next time they met

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rebuff

2 of 2

verb

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 rebuff
Noun
Western nations have repeatedly urged China to use its might to pressure other countries—including Iran, North Korea, and Sudan, along with Russia—but China usually rebuffs these appeals. Da Wei, Foreign Affairs, 29 July 2025 In her later years, Toklas carefully guarded Stein’s legacy, rebuffing, and sometimes actively thwarting, biographers. Anna Russell, New Yorker, 28 July 2025 House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, instead sending members home early for a month-long break from Washington after the week’s legislative agenda was upended by Republican members who are clamoring for a vote. Stephen Groves, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025 Appearing Monday on Fox News’ America Reports, Concha rebuffed critics, including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who framed the show’s cancellation as a First Amendment issue or a chilling effect on free speech. Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rebuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuff
Noun
  • Potter had just been appointed after Julen Lopetegui’s disruptive dismissal and West Ham did win at Manchester United and Ipswich Town in the last three games to bring some light to the season’s end.
    Michael Walker, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Its current trustees have expressed hope that the La Jolla Town Council can move on peacefully from its recent turmoil involving a series of executive actions, member dismissals, resignations and impassioned public comments.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Min Aung Hlaing has been sanctioned and spurned by the West, the country’s economy is in tatters, and his military has lost significant territory in its grinding, multi-front civil war.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2025
  • The overall luxury slowdown has been spurned, in part, by Chinese consumers that have been reluctant to open up their pocketbooks amid economic stressors and other factors.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • The biggest sub takeaway is the number of snubs for major Hollywood leading ladies.
    H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
  • The snub leaves Newcastle needing to look elsewhere.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • Yeah, a woman scorned who also writes songs is a thing to behold.
    Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
  • Not that Colbert really ever held back on his opinions, but a host scorned hath more fury.
    Rance Collins, IndieWire, 26 July 2025
Noun
  • Larger than life, his creation repulses and torments him, and Victor spends the rest of his life both running from it and trying to destroy it.
    Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
  • The optical, stop-motion, and puppetry effects alone should make Brain Damage a priority on your watchlist, but Henenlotter’s film excites and repulses on a deeper level.
    Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • In the mainstream media, and the places where that brand is disdained, there is no room for attention.
    Jack Fowler, National Review, 4 July 2025
  • Even Netflix’s content factory is now licensing the very YouTube creators whom audiences once disdained as amateurs.
    Peter Bart, Deadline, 17 July 2025
Noun
  • In the end, the real sale is trust, and trust is earned in the pause between rejection and return.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Player rejection after player rejection in the transfer market?
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The judge rejected arguments that the actions were taken to preserve legal options, stating the First Amendment doesn't protect forgery.
    Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • The next year, the Southern District of New York rejected the NFLPA’s efforts to vacate an arbitration decision in which Goodell imposed a six-game suspension on running back Ezekiel Elliott for domestic abuse.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuff. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

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