rebuff 1 of 2

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

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
Braced by that humiliating rebuff, the Service wasted no time in getting serious and rallying around reform. Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026 The matter-of-fact rebuff feels very French, very Oklou. Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
The corrupt state judiciary will continue to rebuff the attempts of state Auditor Diana DiZoglio to audit the corrupt state Legislature. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025 Even the rest of the old-schoolers seem oddly content with the new harmonious state of the world and rebuff Carol’s efforts to mobilize. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rebuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuff
Noun
  • Mathieu played just two collegiate seasons before his dismissal in 2012 and subsequent entry into a drug rehabilitation program.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
  • At Rufus King International Middle School, students must store their phones in a vault each morning and retrieve them at dismissal.
    Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Braddy’s motive, Rifkin said, was that he was spurned by Maycock, who had repeatedly rejected his advances.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Less than 24 hours after Tucker spurned the Mets, the team pivoted to Bo Bichette, bringing him in on a three-year deal worth $126 million.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • See below for our BAFTA snubs and surprises.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The British Academy’s 2026 lineup of Film Awards nominees has no shortage of snubs and surprises.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • If Damsky returns to law school, some classmates will treat him as a social pariah who deserves scorn.
    Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Like a lot of messy divorces, this started with a wandering eye, a lover scorned and boils down to the money.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
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
Verb
  • While some other schools have disdained it, particularly because of coaching searches and roster turnover and perhaps over financial costs that make bowls a wash or worse on the payday, Drinkwitz and MU don’t want to surrender the present to the future.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025
  • Matt is fighting against a woman who hates Christianity, will take away your guns, wants Open Borders, Transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, and openly disdains Country music.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Calling for an independent transportation study is not a rejection of women’s professional soccer.
    Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
  • A week before being taken into custody, Lemon predicted he’d be arrested, despite Schiltz's rejection of the government's previous attempts to apprehend him.
    Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Supervisors Shanti Landon, Anthony DeMattei and Suzanne Jones made up the three votes rejecting the loan.
    Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Kaiser flatly rejects the notion that the strike is about anything other than reimbursement.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuff. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

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