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
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Recent Examples of buffs
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
History buffs should follow the online walking tour map created by the Alachua County Historical Commission and the Alachua County Tour Service in 1986.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Memphis gets history buffs and crime headlines.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 15 May 2026
These abilities range from simple attack speed buffs through to complex spells such as the Titanic flying into the battlefield and exploding.
—Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
When the trailer dropped, classics buffs complained about Agamemnon’s armor—dark, shiny, and reminiscent of Nolan’s Batsuit.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 12 May 2026
History buffs can tour the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, while foodies shouldn’t miss comfort-food classics at Southern Kitchen.
—Hayley Hutson, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
The Avenue of the Arts with its theaters and music venues stretches just south, making the hotel an ideal location for culture buffs, too.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2026
Car buffs from around the county came to the latest Ramona American Graffiti Cruise Car Show on April 18, with 136 cars on display.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
Lisa A. Beach, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Combined with lactic acid, this treatment buffs out wrinkles, increases collagen, and regulates sebum.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
Mint Cooling reinvigorates lips, Collagen Boosting reduces the look of fine lines, Vita Glazed moisturizes, and Lemon Sugar Scrub buffs away dead skin cells.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 1 Apr. 2026
Go in with the glass cuticle pusher to gently soften and push back cuticles (which can help nails look longer), plus the glass polisher, which buffs the nail surface smooth for smoother, better, longer-lasting polish application.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 5 Mar. 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
In other circumstances, history (or, at least, classical-music buffs) would remember him as Kapellmeister to the Emperor of Austria, a skilled court composer of some forty operas, and a mentor to Beethoven and Schubert.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
History buffs should follow the online walking tour map created by the Alachua County Historical Commission and the Alachua County Tour Service in 1986.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Memphis gets history buffs and crime headlines.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 15 May 2026
These abilities range from simple attack speed buffs through to complex spells such as the Titanic flying into the battlefield and exploding.
—Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
When the trailer dropped, classics buffs complained about Agamemnon’s armor—dark, shiny, and reminiscent of Nolan’s Batsuit.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 12 May 2026
History buffs can tour the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, while foodies shouldn’t miss comfort-food classics at Southern Kitchen.
—Hayley Hutson, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
The Avenue of the Arts with its theaters and music venues stretches just south, making the hotel an ideal location for culture buffs, too.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2026
Car buffs from around the county came to the latest Ramona American Graffiti Cruise Car Show on April 18, with 136 cars on display.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
Verb
History buffs flock to America’s oldest city for a glimpse into the past.
—Lisa A. Beach, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Combined with lactic acid, this treatment buffs out wrinkles, increases collagen, and regulates sebum.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
Mint Cooling reinvigorates lips, Collagen Boosting reduces the look of fine lines, Vita Glazed moisturizes, and Lemon Sugar Scrub buffs away dead skin cells.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 1 Apr. 2026
Go in with the glass cuticle pusher to gently soften and push back cuticles (which can help nails look longer), plus the glass polisher, which buffs the nail surface smooth for smoother, better, longer-lasting polish application.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 5 Mar. 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
-
The two played lovers on the award-winning HBO series, Driver’s character being quite the abusive onscreen boyfriend at times.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
17 May 2026
-
For beach lovers looking to steer clear of crowds, Florida's Forgotten Coast is a welcome reprieve.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The plastic bristles coax out loose hair as your cat rubs against it.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
-
Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
From there, Sharrow thins down its propeller to precise specification with a five-axis CNC machine and polishes it.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Their bestselling Regenerating Cleanser gently polishes away impurities and dullness to reveal a healthy-looking, radiant glow, clinically proven to make skin look brighter, smoother, more hydrated and pores look smaller.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For a club already facing relegation on the pitch, their own fans may have just dealt them the final, crushing blow.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
The bulk of the fans who remained after Detroit’s blowout Game 7 loss at Little Caesars Arena were there for the Cleveland Cavaliers after being bussed in by owner Dan Gilbert.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The clerk’s inquiry is required by law after someone files a complaint, said Saul Seyler, Ada County’s elections director.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
14 May 2026
-
The district attorney that prosecuted the case represents the state during this process and files briefs responding to the claims, per the handbook.—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Check out this conditioner that smooths and softens strands while adding a bit of shine, so your hair looks healthier without a ton of effort.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In the other direction, the PCS absorbs and smooths transients caused by sudden load swings in the data center that would otherwise disrupt the grid.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That makes students who play by the rules feel like suckers.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
-
But the juries, returning for the semis after a four-year absence, are still suckers for this kind of old-school showboating.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
11 May 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 19 May. 2026.
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