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
Polishing is the process of buffing off the excess wax to create a shine.
—
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
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
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
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
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
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
-
Use light pressure when rubbing the skin, and avoid washing multiple peaches at once to prevent them from bumping into each other.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
-
My wife lowers her gaze as if tired, rubbing the side of her glass with her fingers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The deceptively roomy, buttery-smooth leather style features a convertible crossbody strap, metal feet, interior pockets, and an outfit-polishing silhouette.—
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
-
Prioritizing Features Over User Intent A common user experience mistake is polishing the surface instead of solving for the moment of intent.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
During a walk-through for reporters on Thursday, construction noises — particularly sanding and hammering — could be heard.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
-
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
Verb
-
This one’s made with a blend of recycled materials and spandex, which reviewers say is thick and comfortably smoothing, and features adjustable criss-cross back straps and a shelf bra.—
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
-
True to its name, the lightweight styler enhances your natural texture while smoothing flyaways and boosting softness (no heat required).—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The boys were grinding today, my goodness.—
Mark Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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Antonelli had actually just managed to pass Russell on track on lap 61 before grinding to a halt a lap later.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
The rural counties filing near zero RPOs are not failing because red-flag laws do not work in conservative communities.—
Christopher Carita,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 June 2026
-
Due date for individual taxpayers filing on extension (payment was still due April 15).—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
The warehouse’s operator, Lineage Logistics, previously faced federal penalties over ammonia safety in Iowa and a smaller fire in Boyle Heights in 2024, sharpening scrutiny of its handling of hazardous refrigerants.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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Morocco has just leapfrogged South Africa in the African Development Bank industrial ranking, sharpening the urgency to cut costs that hollow out factories.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffing. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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