buff 1 of 2

noun

ˈbəf How to pronounce buff (audio)
Definition of buffnext
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

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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

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buff

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry

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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

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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
Noun
Come meet and mingle with your fellow movie buffs for an evening of festival fun. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026 The Phil’s hookup with Dave Grohl and company Saturday night was the middle act in a three-night local finale for Dudamel — a delectable dip into what old-school symphony buffs would once have considered low culture. — Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
Start by pushing back your cuticles, lightly buffing your nails, and filing the tips for a nice and tidy canvas. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026 Her nails were bare and buffed, and makeup was light with a brown smoky eye and nude lip. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
  1. lover
  2. nude
  3. rub
  4. polish
  5. sucker
  6. nudity
  7. sand
  8. smooth
Noun
  • This is maybe one that a true pickle lover looking to experiment would really enjoy.
    — Bianca Harris, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • At the same time, in my experience, younger viewers today are far better film lovers than older ones.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • The tight cropping in the monochrome nudes isolates slopes, folds, shadowed recesses and curved planes that hover between landscape and abstraction.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Some historians point to one of Leonardo’s sketches from about the same time that show a David-like nude with a leaf over its groin, arguing that Leonardo wanted Michelangelo’s masterpiece modestly concealed.
    — Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of nude
Verb
  • One juror was rubbing his eyes as Sullivan talked, and another was clasping and unclasping his hands in his lap.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Danger, Olivo, and Mosco had just eaten by the gazebo and Damaris was rubbing her pup’s head goodnight, about to go into the shack.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of rub
Verb
  • Italian Wedding Soup Speaking of proposals, this classic soup is polished enough to serve at a wedding, but homey enough for a weeknight.
    — Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Running a raw, unedited Q&A shows the reality of the technology without a corporate PR team polishing the rough edges or hiding the structural failures.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of polish
Noun
  • Daughter of a travel agent and a sucker for a challenge, Nina can’t resist the call to adventures everywhere from the Midwest to Antarctica.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
  • DuBose questions the allegation that Fields’ sucker-punched his teammate.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sucker
Noun
  • As Schwarzenegger explained it to Hanson, Austrians and bodybuilders are both comfortable with nudity.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Also, there’s a little bit of nudity in the movie, but there was definitely more in the script.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of nudity
Verb
  • Degloss the countertop surface by lightly sanding to scuff the shiny finish, and then wipe the dust away.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Video of the restoration showed the new star, at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, being buffed, sanded and repainted.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of sand
Verb
  • Eight Saints Up the Anti Night Cream moisturizes and plumps skin while smoothing wrinkles and fine lines on the face, neck, and décolleté area.
    — Melony Forcier, InStyle, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Attendees posed for selfies with our supermodel cover stars Anok Yai and Alex Consani, got their curls refreshed with Wella Professionals, and had their foreheads smoothed at VIP neuromodulator appointments.
    — Jennet Jusu, Allure, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of smooth

Phrases Containing buff

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buds
buff
buffalo
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Cite this Entry

“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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