1
as in rubbing
to make smooth by friction
she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polishing
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
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Recent Examples of buffing
For appliances and fixtures such as faucets, start by sprinkling baking soda onto a damp rag, and buffing the stainless steel gently to clean and brighten.
—
Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 11 May 2026
Keep one slightly damp microfiber cloth for cleaning and one dry microfiber cloth for buffing.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Ngo coats the nail with a matte primer, which creates a smooth base, before buffing eye shadow across the surface with a nail sponge.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 Apr. 2026
These provide enough force for buffing out scratches without further damaging the surface.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Finish by cleaning the area with the vinegar and water mixture and buffing it to a shine.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
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
To soften the color, sheer out the formula by buffing excess product onto the back your hand before applying to the face.
—Erin Lassner, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 11 May 2026
Keep one slightly damp microfiber cloth for cleaning and one dry microfiber cloth for buffing.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Ngo coats the nail with a matte primer, which creates a smooth base, before buffing eye shadow across the surface with a nail sponge.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 Apr. 2026
These provide enough force for buffing out scratches without further damaging the surface.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Finish by cleaning the area with the vinegar and water mixture and buffing it to a shine.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
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
To soften the color, sheer out the formula by buffing excess product onto the back your hand before applying to the face.
—Erin Lassner, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buffing
Verb
-
Carefully remove any visible tentacles with tweezers or a gloved hand and avoid rubbing the skin.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
3 June 2026
-
Sources told the outlet that the pair had a smiley chat, while White's date was also seen rubbing his leg.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Another highlight of my visit was experiencing Bastien's Manicure, an in-spa collaboration with nail-care specialists Bastien Gonzalez, which pairs meticulous cuticle work and a thorough massage with a natural nail-polishing technique that eliminates the need for nail polish entirely.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
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There’s the difficulty of sintering and polishing the ceramic, and then there’s maintaining the purity of the look.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Then sanding, priming, spraying back at my own shop to create numerous avatars of her including a male trixter hero version named the ‘Frozen Charlatan’ who is the chrome metallic alter ego.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 June 2026
-
Consider sanding and staining the wood, or at least providing a sealant, to help protect against the elements.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The formula, which is infused with a vegan keratin smoothing complex and argan oil, promises up to 100 hours of frizz-free hair and up to 38% more light reflection, as well as heat protection up to 450 degrees.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
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The Trouser Jeans are no different thanks to the wide pantlegs, smoothing waistband, and overall flattering fit.—
Ruby McAuliffe,
InStyle,
4 June 2026
Verb
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If the story of the past two years was one of slow, grinding forward progress for Russia,the story of this year is very different.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
-
Nine crucial years of expansion and solidification of the pernicious institution went by, speeding the nation’s road toward a grinding war.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The six months Tran received for pleading guilty to larceny of a firearm, misleading law enforcement in a criminal investigation, and filing an application for a license to carry containing false information were served concurrently with the federal charges.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
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Brunson got fouled, the Knicks had the lead back and before long Spurs fans were filing out of the arena — possibly for the final time this season.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The Go Generation 3 keeps the formula intact while sharpening the parts that mattered most, and it's pitched squarely at festivals, travel, and impromptu social gatherings.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 June 2026
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Exercise improves mental health by triggering mood-boosting brain chemicals, easing tension, improving sleep and sharpening focus, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.—
Samantha Agate,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffing. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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