1
as in mediators
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
2
as in pads
something that serves as a protective barrier
the excelsior acts as an additional buffer for the marble bust during shipping
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in softens
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 buffers
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
While the top 20% spends paper gains, the bottom 80% is currently financing groceries with shadow debt, having fully depleted their pandemic-era savings buffers.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
The outside world is changing, and Cuba is entering it with weak institutions and few buffers.
—Ricardo Torres, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
Superpowers in a bipolar structure compete obsessively, creating spheres and buffers by cultivating protégés and installing puppets.
—Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2025
Schwartz / Bloomberg / Getty Images Wetlands act as buffers against flooding by absorbing and storing water during extreme rainfall and other high-runoff events.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 22 Nov. 2025
Yet, through conservation and advanced planning, Tucson has one of the largest buffers in its water portfolio of any central Arizona municipality.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
In lieu of an outright ban, some cities and townships have gone the way of creating ordinances trying to regulate setbacks, enforce visual screening, or ground buffers.
—Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
Brinton said the firm is working with experts to map and appraise the land taken for the trail, as well as things like fencing or buffers landowners have had to install.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
This is because perspective-taking buffers escalation.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
While the top 20% spends paper gains, the bottom 80% is currently financing groceries with shadow debt, having fully depleted their pandemic-era savings buffers.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
The outside world is changing, and Cuba is entering it with weak institutions and few buffers.
—Ricardo Torres, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
Superpowers in a bipolar structure compete obsessively, creating spheres and buffers by cultivating protégés and installing puppets.
—Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2025
Schwartz / Bloomberg / Getty Images Wetlands act as buffers against flooding by absorbing and storing water during extreme rainfall and other high-runoff events.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 22 Nov. 2025
Yet, through conservation and advanced planning, Tucson has one of the largest buffers in its water portfolio of any central Arizona municipality.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
In lieu of an outright ban, some cities and townships have gone the way of creating ordinances trying to regulate setbacks, enforce visual screening, or ground buffers.
—Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
Brinton said the firm is working with experts to map and appraise the land taken for the trail, as well as things like fencing or buffers landowners have had to install.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
This helps create a barrier of warmer air that buffers the foliage against the cold.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buffers
Noun
-
Neither side withdrew from the four-month-old ceasefire during its initial phase, as international mediators pressed Israel and Hamas toward subsequent steps.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
With continued support of mediators, nurses plan on bargaining daily to settle fair contracts that protect patient and nurse safety.—
Tim McNicholas,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Once the pads came on, Suamataia took virtually every first-team rep at left tackle.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Even one of the greatest ever to play this game, Joe Root, could not work out how to break free of the 36-year-old’s shackles here, failing to score a single run off him for 23 balls in a row before finally yielding to the python-like grip when missing one that homed in on his pads.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The formula includes hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, giving it a soothing, balm-like feel that softens lips overnight.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The suppleness of the band softens Williams’ tales of despair, transforming them into songs of solace, not outrage.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This time around in talks with studios, union negotiators will be facing a new but familiar opponent on the other side of the table after longtime studio negotiator Carol Lombardini stepped down.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Those shields include Section 230 and free speech defenses tied to user content.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The dearth of trees on the island implied to some that the inhabitants had cut them down to make clubs and shields.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a healthy economy, the middle and working classes provide a floor of stable demand that cushions this volatility.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
14 Jan. 2026
-
This structure cushions physical contact and detects impact forces in real time, improving safety during close human–robot interaction.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But beginners and intermediates shouldn’t be intimidated; there are plenty of runs suited for those just starting out, and A-Basin also boasts an excellent Ski and Ride School.—
Abby Price,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Jan. 2026
-
In between those two extremes, swooping, panoramic groomers and fun off-piste options speak to cruisy carvers and aspiring intermediates.—
Drew Zieff,
Outside,
21 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The anodized exterior trim bits return for a bit of visual interest, and Subaru also redesigned the Wilderness’ front and rear bumpers.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Some options focus on the dog’s environment, such as adding padding or corner bumpers to sharp furniture edges and other hard surfaces a tail might repeatedly hit.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buffers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffers. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
