rebuff 1 of 2

Definition of rebuffnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
The latest rebuff of state overreach was the dismissal last week of the highly questionable felony case against respected Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly brought by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026 Braced by that humiliating rebuff, the Service wasted no time in getting serious and rallying around reform. Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
The corrupt state judiciary will continue to rebuff the attempts of state Auditor Diana DiZoglio to audit the corrupt state Legislature. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025 Even the rest of the old-schoolers seem oddly content with the new harmonious state of the world and rebuff Carol’s efforts to mobilize. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rebuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuff
Noun
  • Additionally, Redd filed a motion seeking the dismissal of the lawsuit for failure to state a claim.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The sentence followed a similar plea deal for her co-defendant and boyfriend, Dhante Jackson, who won the dismissal of murder and child abuse charges in October of last year in exchange for a no contest plea on a lone accessory count.
    Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Waning support for Israel, and increasingly bipartisan disapproval of the war in Iran, has loomed large over the primary elections, with candidates increasingly spurning the support of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and sharpening their criticism of the country.
    Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Trump has spurned Zelenskyy’s offer of help for the United States and its Persian Gulf partners in fighting Iranian drones.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • And Rob Shuter claims the snub was very much intentional.
    StyleCaster Editors, StyleCaster, 23 Mar. 2026
  • There may have been various reasons for the snub, including a shortage of chips or a sufficient supply of the existing iPad 11, Gurman says.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The hypocrisy is especially rank as RFK pushes the Food and Drug Administration to loosen restrictions on peptides, an experimental fad among wellness influencers who scorn traditional medicine.
    Editorial Board, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Brenda's right to call it out, and Mac’s 'Brenda scorned' joke was the perfect touch of humor to a stressful situation.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 2026
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 Sondheim’s body of work, Okrent searches for the autobiographical resonances that Sondheim himself mostly disdained.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Because that man is going out of his way to remind everyone why, exactly, he is universally disdained.
    Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The lawsuit follows the board’s rejection of the foundation’s application, citing a state Supreme Court ruling that came after the board rejected the foundation's application.
    KOKH Staff, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Looks-maxxing has been described as a nihilistic rejection of society’s values.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Olsson rejects The Athletic’s offer to take cover inside the coffee shop.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Last week, for example, the UK government rejected plans by a Chinese company, Ming Yang, to invest in a Scottish factory to produce wind turbine blades, citing national security reasons.
    Andy Browne, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuff. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on rebuff

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster