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
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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
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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of buff
Carlianne Brennan, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2026
Roma was arguably Netflix's first big original movie that really caught the attention of critics and film buffs alike.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
The Romantic Tour is a lavish spectacle that is buffed to perfection, with every light swirl and confetti drop precisely calibrated.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for buff
Noun
As Cape May's only Victorian house museum, the Emlen Physick Estate is a favorite among history buffs.
—Carlianne Brennan, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2026
Roma was arguably Netflix's first big original movie that really caught the attention of critics and film buffs alike.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
Combined with lactic acid, this treatment buffs out wrinkles, increases collagen, and regulates sebum.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
The Romantic Tour is a lavish spectacle that is buffed to perfection, with every light swirl and confetti drop precisely calibrated.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
Noun
-
Made in response to a difficult breakup, the work alludes to two lovers parting ways, but also to Pau’s memories of isolation as a severely asthmatic child in a notoriously polluted city, lying in bed staring at the wall and inventing stories to distract herself from the difficulty of breathing.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
People who collect rare books are book lovers, first and foremost.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Other tricks include asking for nudes and threatening to leak them unless victims pay a certain amount.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That progressed slowly to sending each other nudes.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The 4-year-old eventually could be seen getting up and walking away, while Berrios-Otero continues to allegedly rub the unidentified child, the warrant affidavits said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
-
Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
That means steep hills, slick cobblestones, long outdoor lunches, golden-hour strolls, late-night cocktails, and somehow still looking polished through all of it.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Why had someone polished smooth one of the crania and decorated another with a pattern of scratch marks?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Keep in mind that trumpet vines can become invasive by self-seeding and sending up suckers, so allocate ample space.—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Snip upright suckers and water sprouts that zap the tree’s energy.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some of the characters kiss each other, but there aren't any explicit interactions, graphic scenes or nudity.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
Elizabeth's content up to this point, according to this source, hasn't contained full nudity.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Embrace the act of adding to a work table's patina, let your copper sit on display, and don't worry about sanding and re-staining old wood.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The technique still needs sanding, and zero interceptions in 48 career games is concerning, but McCutchin’s combine testing gave his draft case a nice shot of nitrous.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The complementary conditioner dials up the moisture with shea butter, murumuru butter, and amino acids to smooth and strengthen—leaving hair soft, bouncy, and ready for styling.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Its benefits span from firming and lift to smoothing texture and tone.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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