Synonyms of buff

buff 1 of 2

noun

ˈbəf 

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

• lover
• sucker
• fan
• enthusiast
• fanatic
• maniac
• freak
• bug
• addict
• junkie
• admirer
• devotee
• fiend
• hound
• aficionado
• collector
• nut
• supporter
• fool
• proponent
• maven
• fancier
• friend
• expert
• authority
• head
• habitué
• connoisseur
• dilettante
• amateur
• champion
• exponent
• patron
• groupie
• advocate
• promoter
• convert
• zealot
• adherent
• booster
• follower
• disciple
• evangelist
• partisan
• apostle
• backer
• cultist
• votary
• hanger-on
• faddist
• rooter
• well-wisher

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonfan
• detractor
• critic
• carper
• belittler
• nonadmirer

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

• nude
• nudity
• raw
• nakedness
• altogether
• birthday suit
• bottomlessness
• bareness
• naturism
• nudism
• toplessness

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rub
• polish
• sand
• file
• sharpen
• grind
• hone
• scrape
• plane
• smooth
• gloss
• shine
• scour
• sandblast
• rasp
• burnish
• whet
• edge
• dress
• strop
• regrind

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rough (up)
• roughen
• scuff
• coarsen

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• polish
• rub
• smooth
• coat
• scrub
• shine
• gloss
• scrape
• burnish
• grind
• sand
• furbish
• dress
• finish
• slick
• sleek
• bob
• smoothen
• varnish
• glaze
• face
• file
• bone
• brighten
• japan
• lacquer
• scour
• sandblast
• sandpaper
• veneer
• lap
• rasp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• roughen
• rough (up)
• ruffle
• scuff (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of buff

Noun

History buffs should make time for the Celina Area Heritage Association Visitors Center and Museum, where photographs, artifacts, and interactive exhibits highlight more than 150 years of the city’s history. — Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 19 July 2026

Today, coastal redwood forests are preserved, of course, but in some places, trains continue to move on down the track, helping nature and train buffs enjoy these scenic areas via locomotive. — Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026

Verb

Spray your microfiber cloth with glass cleaner and gently buff the surface for a streak-free finish. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 27 June 2026

Lightly buff the natural nail so the surface holds glue. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026

Phrases Containing buff

• in the buff