BUFFER Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

buffer 1 of 2

noun

ˈbə-fər

Definition of buffer

as in mediator

one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement it took a friend serving as a buffer between the feuding siblings to get them to speak to one another again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in pad

something that serves as a protective barrier the excelsior acts as an additional buffer for the marble bust during shipping

Synonyms & Similar Words

buffer

2 of 2

verb

as in to soften

to lessen the shock of during my walk an umbrella and thick coat buffered the freezing rain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 buffer

Noun

Ice acts as a buffer, limiting the presence of wave and wind energy that can destroy the eggs. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2026 Paired with battery storage and control software, a solid-state transformer can combine the work of multiple devices to act as a buffer or shock absorber, helping to decouple the chaotic appetite of AI chips from the utility’s need for stability. — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Verb

Air pockets trapped between overlapping leaves moderate the soil temperature and slow heat transfer, buffering against the freeze-thaw cycles that heave soil, fracture plant roots and expose beneficial soil microbes to lethal cold. — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 The footpad cannot extract energy from chemically inert surfaces such as plastic, glass, soil, or organic tissue, prompting the team to add a small onboard supercapacitor to buffer power across dead zones. — New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for buffer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for buffer

Noun

Qatar is among the nations that have acted as mediators between the two sides for months.

— Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
In this way, the child often takes on the role of a confidant, mentor, or mediator within their household.

— Parents, Parents, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of mediator

Noun

The sensor has a 90-degree horizontal and 50-degree vertical field of view and is powered by a single CR123A battery, which is included along with adhesive mounting pads and a user guide.

— John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
Brady Tkachuk quickly spun to face Ullmark and shoved the puck under the goalie’s pads for his seventh goal of the season.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of pad

Verb

Certain oils can soften dry, flaky skin and help reduce moisture loss, which may be especially helpful if your scalp feels tight or dry after shampooing.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Lead times for the iPhone 18 Pro have softened in several markets compared with the prior cycle, while the more expensive Pro Max has held up better, according to JPMorgan's tracking.

— MacKenzie Sigalos,Kif Leswing, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of soften

Noun

Dozens of armored cops were still standing guard, shields raised, after a night when 500 people were taken into custody in the French capital alone.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Tortoiseshell shield sunglasses and a timeless black tote complete the casual-meets-cool outfit.

— Laura Jackson, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of shield

Verb

Du Halgouët said the region’s performance was supported by retail sales at its own-brand stores, while the company’s focus on higher-value products, particularly leather goods and jewelry, helped cushion the decline.

— Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Hit your late 70s though, and you are not cushioned from bereavement.

— Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of cushion

Noun

Prior to that, the Johnsons ran their business out of a former funeral home that required a white intermediary to purchase it.

— Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
Traditional festivals are events where content is typically presented to industry professionals and the press, who then act as intermediaries, bringing that content to the general public.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of intermediary

Noun

Growing up in Birmingham in the Nick Saban era made the pain of each loss worse, as the Crimson Tide was plastered over every bumper and yard sign and half of the shirts of my classmates.

— Austin Evans, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2026
Also, passenger road vehicles use safety features like steel bumpers and crumple zones to absorb impact forces during collisions.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of bumper

Browse Nearby Words

buffed

buffer

buffered

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Style

“Buffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffer. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of buffer

noun

verb

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