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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of buff
Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
For the ingredient buffs, hydrating electrolyte molecules and amino acids — the building blocks of skin-strengthening proteins — are also present in this milky moisturizer.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 22 Jan. 2026
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Jan. 2026
Polishing is the process of buffing off the excess wax to create a shine.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for buff
Noun
Marcus Theatres announced its 2026 best picture showcase for the upcoming Academy Awards, which will allow movie buffs an opportunity to watch all nominees in a bundle deal.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
For the ingredient buffs, hydrating electrolyte molecules and amino acids — the building blocks of skin-strengthening proteins — are also present in this milky moisturizer.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
The singer, born Cassandra Monique Batie, also colored her waterline with black, buffing gray and brown tones underneath.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Jan. 2026
Polishing is the process of buffing off the excess wax to create a shine.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
Noun
-
The gleaming, cool tones of silver add a timeless aesthetic that brings back fond memories for antique lovers.—
Heather Bien,
Martha Stewart,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The 68th annual Grammys are kicking off the month of love, and all the lovers and haters are tuning in.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The show opened with a transparent silk mousseline suit in a tender color palette of nudes and pinks.—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Ofcom has launched an investigation into X over reports that the social media platform’s AI chatbot Grok is generating deepfake nudes of people without their consent, as well as sexualised images of children.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After Landfair climbed into Kelly’s lap and rubbed his head — following the precise instructions Sparkle had given her — Kelly eagerly accepted her innocent request.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
-
But this one in particular rubbed him the wrong way.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Our editors’ favorite work bags have earned their place in our daily rotations, designed with durability and style in mind, and polished enough to go wherever the day takes us.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Its sleek vegan leather design looks polished enough for sightseeing days and casual dinners alike.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For a coach who thinks running the ball is for squares and suckers, that’s not exactly adapting one’s philosophy to fit your personnel.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The multi-hyphenate is a sucker for chunky frames, and the Center Stage style from Peepers fits the bill.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There’s no frontal nudity, for example, in this show, right?—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
There is an extramarital affair and even brief partial nudity.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The department also noted the city will only sand residential streets at the request of Dallas police and Dallas Fire-Rescue to assist with emergency responses.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Before those efforts, crews will continue sanding operations around the city to treat roads this week.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The initial collection will consist of a seamless or smoothing nylon bra, a seamless or shaping nylon brief, and a seamless or shaping nylon short.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Solar energy generation paired with four-hour storage can economically and reliably supply about 15% of system energy by smoothing daily ups and downs.—
Alex Pavlak,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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