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
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
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
  • The incident happened during dismissal in a Millard Lefler Middle School hallway on Tuesday, April 7, a spokesperson for the school confirmed to PEOPLE on Thursday, April 9.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The Justice Department has appealed the Oregon, California and Michigan dismissals.
    Rebecca Boone, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • According to the student paper, Welsh became extremely popular and spurned the advances of the men on campus.
    Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Waning support for Israel, and increasingly bipartisan disapproval of the war in Iran, has loomed large over the primary elections, with candidates increasingly spurning the support of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and sharpening their criticism of the country.
    Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • And Rob Shuter claims the snub was very much intentional.
    StyleCaster Editors, StyleCaster, 23 Mar. 2026
  • There may have been various reasons for the snub, including a shortage of chips or a sufficient supply of the existing iPad 11, Gurman says.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The hypocrisy is especially rank as RFK pushes the Food and Drug Administration to loosen restrictions on peptides, an experimental fad among wellness influencers who scorn traditional medicine.
    Editorial Board, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Brenda's right to call it out, and Mac’s 'Brenda scorned' joke was the perfect touch of humor to a stressful situation.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 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
  • In Sondheim’s body of work, Okrent searches for the autobiographical resonances that Sondheim himself mostly disdained.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Because that man is going out of his way to remind everyone why, exactly, he is universally disdained.
    Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • This election could reshape not just Hungary but signal a broader European rejection of the illiberal, nationalist movements Orbán inspired among the global far-right.
    Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
  • As GLP-1s become more ubiquitous, leading many to scramble after insurance rejections, both manufacturers are looking to draw in more customers who either prefer to avoid a needle or were unable to swing the out-of-pocket price.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • A day earlier, Iran rejected a 15-point proposal offered by American negotiators.
    Joe Walsh, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • In response to the lawsuit, a government lawyer argued that forcing USCIS to lift the pause on Al Ghoula’s application and others like it could result in swift denials, warning that the applications would probably be rejected because security vetting is incomplete.
    Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuff. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

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