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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Some customers have even shared some DIY remedies online, such as rubbing coconut oil into the holes of the CloudTec midsole, focusing on areas where the squeaking is worse, including the heel and midfoot.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
-
There’s a swagger to his game (ask Erik Gudbranson, who was ticked off at the Wild center rubbing his delay of game penalty in).—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Venus ends its Virgo run in your communication house, polishing your words with discernment.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
5 Oct. 2025
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Over the course of the next 36 years, McNally returned to the script again and again, rewriting, restaging, refining and polishing it into something that eventually became one of Broadway’s biggest hits of 2014 and ’15.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
29 Sep. 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
-
The acid can stain or discolor the surface, possibly requiring sanding to remove.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This bra has wide straps, side-smoothing panels, and an allover stretchy fit — sans wires poking you in the ribcage.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
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Truly, the gadget is that girl — capable of smoothing, de-frizzing, and adding effortless bounce to your locks while granting damage-free curls thanks to Shark’s Coanda technology (which automatically wraps strands around the barrel, saving you the time and hassle of DIYing it).—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That hypnotizing aroma may be one thing, but there is actually a science to grinding coffee.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
15 Oct. 2025
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But the patient, grinding work of peace implementation typically bores him.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ferguson’s lawyers tried to get him out of jail, filing a motion that accused the woman of having made similar false accusations against others, court records show.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
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The number was made public in a court filing the same day from the Justice Department, after the White House delivered on its threat of a fresh wave of firings across the federal workforce.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This includes balancing light and color, sharpening details, and reducing noise.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
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Gass, who’s been CEO at Levi’s since January 2024, has been building on and sharpening the company’s efforts to expand its own direct-to-consumer business, which currently accounts for 46 percent of sales, and bring in more women shoppers.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffing. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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