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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of buff
Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
History buffs will love The Rock of Cashel, a medieval site in County Tipperary, roughly a two-hour drive from Dublin or Galway.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
Lauren Murdoch-Smith, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
If the bloom's appearance bothers you, remove it by applying a small amount of oil, such as cooking oil or baby oil, to a soft cloth, then gently buffing it away in a circular motion.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
Noun
But not all local officials and history buffs have bought into the idea of moving the Red Oak Victory.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
History buffs will love The Rock of Cashel, a medieval site in County Tipperary, roughly a two-hour drive from Dublin or Galway.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
Verb
After that, gently buff the nail to create a smooth, even surface.
—Lauren Murdoch-Smith, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
If the bloom's appearance bothers you, remove it by applying a small amount of oil, such as cooking oil or baby oil, to a soft cloth, then gently buffing it away in a circular motion.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
Noun
-
Social media only sees about five minutes of her day, but the book lover is all too aware of how some viewers piece together brief slices of life and call it a full picture.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Arizona Big Buckle Shearling Leather Sandal This extra cozy take on the popular Arizona Sandal pairs an ultra-soft shearling lining with an oversized, elegant pin buckle that’s perfect for comfort lovers who still want to make a statement.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Maya Jama has joined other women in imploring Elon Musk‘s AI platform to respect their privacy after a deepfake nudes scandal has caused outrage.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Buchloh’s best essays romp through the history of genres—the female nude, the family portrait, the history painting, the Romantic landscape—to show how Richter’s work mines the past for the future.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One of the brothers claims that Busfield rubbed his genitals and touched his buttocks during the production, per the warrant.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Its main job is to rub against the eyelid during a blink to generate a small amount of static electricity.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Speak steadily to keep polishing your reputation.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Guests return for its discreet charm, consistently warm staff, and a sense of home that feels polished rather than precious.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Trim all vertical limbs, commonly known as suckers.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The multi-hyphenate is a sucker for chunky frames, and the Center Stage style from Peepers fits the bill.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The viewer never sees anything that graphic; there’s no Game of Thrones–style full-frontal nudity, though one does glimpse a generous amount of butt cheek.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The whole issue of award show expletives came to the Supreme Court twice, the last time in 2012, when the justices struck down fines on Fox Television Stations over expletives uttered by Cher and Nicole Richie during the Billboard Music Awards, as well as nudity that aired on ABC’s NYPD Blue.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After sanding and wiping down well with a tacky cloth to get rid of grit, use a paint primer to help the paint stick to the wood and prevent additional cracks.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Wood floors are durable in that they can be sanded and refinished.—
Mary Grace Granados
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As a result, this is not a last-minute, turn-up-and-go destination, but experienced tour operators can help smooth the path.—
Holden Frith,
TheWeek,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Check out more skin-smoothing K-beauty favorites below.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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