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
If the copper is heavily tarnished, let the toothpaste's active ingredients work on the patina for ten minutes or so before buffing.
—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 5 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
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 5 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
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Work it into the fabric by massaging it with the pads of your fingers or by rubbing the fabric against itself.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Sep. 2025
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These trees are always vulnerable to the male deer, known as bucks, rubbing their antlers on the trunks of the trees.—
Chris McKeown,
The Enquirer,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Silver Centerpieces For anyone who's ever gotten stuck polishing silver, there's good news.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
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When growth takes off, there's often a temptation to start polishing everything.—
Mike Vietri,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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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
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The acid can stain or discolor the surface, possibly requiring sanding to remove.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Here are the 10 that experts and editors agree on, including frizz-smoothing serums, bond-repairing blends, and moisture-locking formulas that actually work.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
1 Sep. 2025
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From boosting hydration to smoothing texture, the benefits of snail mucin are well-documented among skincare enthusiasts.—
Karina Hoshikawa,
Refinery29,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Instead, the army became bogged down in a grinding war of attrition, and the West was stunned by Moscow’s poor battlefield performance.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Although Moscow's ground forces are being chewed up in the grinding war in Ukraine's east, Russia has wound up its defense industry to backfill its constant equipment losses and regular strikes across Ukraine.—
Ellie Cook — reporting from Prague, Czech Republic,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For applicants, this begins with ensuring current compliance by filing all required returns, paying any outstanding liabilities, and meeting foreign asset and accounts information reporting obligations.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Peter Homer, who represents Weatherington and White said Dumas was ousted from the board during a July 22 meeting and said Dumas has a history of filing lawsuits against former employers.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Credit rating agencies are sharpening their focus on climate vulnerability, raising questions about whether sectors or sovereigns with large protection gaps could face higher borrowing costs.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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On September 2nd, Mercury re-enters its home turf of Virgo, sharpening our mental focus and communication skills.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffing. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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