as in lovers
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something
he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rubs
to make smooth by friction
she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polishes
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of buffs
Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 25 Feb. 2026
The texture buffs without scratching, creating a shiny, streak-free surface.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
The cast then is split up into their three tribes and received their buffs.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Fortunately for fast-food history buffs, a Downtown restaurant is offering a chance to try a Hula Burger for yourself, albeit a version that is likely more delicious than its predecessor.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2026
History buffs will love visiting the Castle Dome Mine Museum, which offers a glimpse at life in this mining town in the 19th century.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Here’s one auction that sports car history buffs will want to keep an eye on.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2026
Argan shell powder gently buffs while argan oil helps replenish hydration, leaving you with bouncy, refreshed strands.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Feb. 2026
This is one of Europe’s largest and most impressive building projects of the 21st century, and every visitor to Hamburg should at the very least swing by—particularly classical music-lovers and architecture buffs.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 Jan. 2026
Public tours of the White House have been a longstanding American tradition, offering families, students, and history buffs a rare chance to see inside one of the nation's most significant historic buildings.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
For film buffs, 2017’s That Summer is documentary-behind-the-documentary prequel.
—Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 25 Feb. 2026
The texture buffs without scratching, creating a shiny, streak-free surface.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
The cast then is split up into their three tribes and received their buffs.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Fortunately for fast-food history buffs, a Downtown restaurant is offering a chance to try a Hula Burger for yourself, albeit a version that is likely more delicious than its predecessor.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2026
History buffs will love visiting the Castle Dome Mine Museum, which offers a glimpse at life in this mining town in the 19th century.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Here’s one auction that sports car history buffs will want to keep an eye on.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2026
Argan shell powder gently buffs while argan oil helps replenish hydration, leaving you with bouncy, refreshed strands.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Feb. 2026
This is one of Europe’s largest and most impressive building projects of the 21st century, and every visitor to Hamburg should at the very least swing by—particularly classical music-lovers and architecture buffs.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
There’s gentle exfoliation courtesy of betaine salicylate, a mild beta-hydroxy acid that buffs away little flakes and rough patches dry skin tends to collect.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 Jan. 2026
Public tours of the White House have been a longstanding American tradition, offering families, students, and history buffs a rare chance to see inside one of the nation's most significant historic buildings.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buffs
Noun
-
Hundreds of cocktail lovers will gather in Brooklyn on March 21 for the Bloody Mary Festival, now in its 13th year.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Fortunately for the legume lovers among us, peas grow surprisingly well indoors.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This might happen because antler rubs strip bark away, revealing lignin-rich inner wood that reemits the longer wavelengths in a way bark does not.—
Anirban Mukhopadhyay,
Scientific American,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Unfortunately, Martin’s blunt and borderline rude bedside manner rubs the quirky, needy locals the wrong way, including schoolteacher Louisa Gavin (Abigail Spencer).—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In another, Kelly’s character polishes the massive rock on a seat cushion, then lies back to admire it.—
Rachel Garrahan,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Designed in tandem with the brand’s existing DIY gel system, Olive & June’s Builder Gel polishes (retailing for $12 each) are thicker in texture than traditional gel polish, creating a strong, supportive barrier to help grow your natural nails.—
Jacqueline Kilikita,
Refinery29,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Get ready for Restructure Week Happy Restructure Week, Cowboys fans!—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Were fans indeed on to something?—
Vogue,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The rules get even tougher once a policyholder files a lawsuit, or an insurer reasonably believes a lawsuit could be filed.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The utility also does not set or raise utility prices on its own, the statement said, and the company files rates with the IURC.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At just $6, the rich moisturizer hydrates and smooths pesky dry spots and crepey patches.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Sweeping slightly melts and smooths the ice, reducing friction so that the stone travels farther and curls less.—
Mark Billingsley,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Hindsight, alas, is for suckers and columnists.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
-
These forces—economic uncertainty, political division, and toxic algorithms—work in a vicious cycle to try and tell us that empathy is weakness… that kindness is gullibility… that sincerity is for suckers.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sawdust sprays as Matt Sams meticulously sands the edges of a balcony railing that will soon be affixed to the front of a house.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Chapman sands his board occasionally to remove this top layer of funk.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
24 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffs. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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