rebuff 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rebuffnext
as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly took her rebuff in stride, and still greeted her cousin with a friendly smile the next time they met

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rebuff

2 of 2

verb

as in to spurn

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rebuff
Noun
The latest rebuff of state overreach was the dismissal last week of the highly questionable felony case against respected Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly brought by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026 Braced by that humiliating rebuff, the Service wasted no time in getting serious and rallying around reform. — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
Tess, who's on the bus rebuffing yet another apology from Orson, spots Jamison walking by. — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026 The president’s budget request has repeatedly proposed cutting the NSF’s budget by more than half, which so far have been rebuffed by Congress. — Shalin Jyotishi, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for rebuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuff
  1. dismissal
  2. spurn
  3. snub
  4. scorn
  5. repulse
  6. disdain
  7. rejection
  8. reject
Noun
  • The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) explored the candidacy of various coaches in the wake of McCullum’s dismissal from the red-ball role.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • Suda filed suit for wrongful dismissal, and the museum countersued her for theft; the conflict is set to be resolved via arbitration, at a judge’s order, later this year.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 29 July 2026
Definition of dismissal
Verb
  • Teams LeBron spurned, including the Heat and Timberwolves, have seen players like Bam Adebayo and Anthony Edwards playfully vow to challenge him.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • But the fact that the top two quarterbacks in a recruiting class both spurned blue bloods to stay with rising programs close to home is remarkable.
    — Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of spurn
Noun
  • Meanwhile, franchise pitching legend Dave Stieb has reignited a decades-old debate, asserting that his Hall of Fame snub and lack of Cy Young awards stem from playing in Canada.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • The snub for entry-level models could discourage those looking forward to this program after Apple’s recent price hikes, which raised the prices of the MacBook Neo and the entry-level iPad by $100.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 22 July 2026
Definition of snub
Verb
  • Police quickly connected them to his ex-fiancée and began investigating her, with a media narrative painting her as a woman scorned and willing to do anything to ruin his life.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026
  • The season ended with Beth and Rip’s adopted son Carter (Finn Little) being abducted by the family that Beulah scorned when going into business with the infamous Beth Dutton.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2026
Definition of scorn
Noun
  • Larger than life, his creation repulses and torments him, and Victor spends the rest of his life both running from it and trying to destroy it.
    — Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
  • The optical, stop-motion, and puppetry effects alone should make Brain Damage a priority on your watchlist, but Henenlotter’s film excites and repulses on a deeper level.
    — Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • And, like Maverick, Hegseth disdains rules against showy flyovers.
    — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026
  • The title character disdains the common folk, and the play’s complicated political discussion and harsh, jagged poetry aren’t what most picnicking playgoers are after.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of disdain
Noun
  • The unprecedented proposal, aimed at accelerating investment, faced swift and broad opposition from major confederations like UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC, transforming it into a near-global rejection.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Spain’s Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be summarily returned under the enclaves’ special border-rejection regime.
    — Jamie Timson, TheWeek, 31 July 2026
Definition of rejection
Verb
  • After spending months negotiating a pricey purchase of the private fuel yard that keeps PortMiami ships running, two top deputies to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava were shocked when their boss abruptly rejected the deal.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 28 July 2026
  • Concerns Government staff forwarded a recommendation from the Landmarks Commission to reject the request.
    — Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
Definition of reject

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Cite this Entry

“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuff. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of rebuff for Spanish Speakers

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