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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of buffing
These provide enough force for buffing out scratches without further damaging the surface.
—
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
Instead, Bungie rolled out a TWAB last week that was nerfing player progression instead of buffing it.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Shea butter steps in to soothe your skin after buffing, while the lavender scent transforms your shower into a relaxing aromatherapeutic moment.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 25 Aug. 2025
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
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
Instead, Bungie rolled out a TWAB last week that was nerfing player progression instead of buffing it.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Shea butter steps in to soothe your skin after buffing, while the lavender scent transforms your shower into a relaxing aromatherapeutic moment.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 25 Aug. 2025
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
-
More videos show Dangy rubbing Rune’s belly and feeding him with a bottle.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Like rubbing salt into the wound, an activist investor is seeking to block outgoing Target chief executive officer Brian Cornell’s transition to executive chairman next February.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The students spend the semester writing and polishing a novel excerpt, memoir excerpt, or chapbook length collection of poetry.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
22 Sep. 2025
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After polishing, Stewart washes each piece with dish soap, rinses with lukewarm water, and dries immediately to prevent watermarks.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Even the DeSantis administration might have some qualms about sanding off crosswalk markings within sight of the club where 49 people died in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The acid can stain or discolor the surface, possibly requiring sanding to remove.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The ultra-wide, crossover waistband accentuates the waist while the stretchy, supportive fabric provides a smoothing effect on the midsection.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
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The bra is made of a silky fabric that’s lightweight and smoothing for a fit that hugs you and stays hidden under clothes.—
Melody Kazel,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The songwriting process for the album’s breakout hit started with the track’s grinding post-chorus breakdown, which Walter had created on a whim.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
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Stories like these have underscored the human dimension of a grinding war, where soldiers form bonds with animals in the trenches.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
DeFusco, the economist, believes filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is an underused option for debtors.—
Rae Ellen Bichell,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
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One is filing a complaint with the DOT, which it is obligated to investigate (at least, for now).—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The scratching posts are lined with sistal ropes for scratching and sharpening claws while the rest areas are soft and warm, perfect for an afternoon siesta.—
Christine Persaud,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
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October begins with a profound shift in energy as Mercury joins Mars in Scorpio on October 6, sharpening our minds and intensifying our communication.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffing. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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