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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to spurn
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rebuff
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
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
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
-
Hall heard oral arguments for the dismissal in April and has yet to issue a ruling.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
At dismissal, Fridley Middle’s teachers and many support staff put on their jackets, scarves and gloves and walked outside.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Mia Williams, a former Gator, spurned her former team with a two-run home run for the 10-8 win.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
The New York Knicks’ president, a stout, taciturn man, surly about the mouth, who spurns engagement with the media but whose competence no contemporary Knicks follower can gainsay, stands in a crowd, surrounded by cheering fans.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
Noun
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While no specific reason for the apparent snub was provided to the outlet, the move follows months of speculation about a rift between Swift and the Tellers.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
1 June 2026
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Compounding the snub, Trump so far hasn’t made any announcement about a consolation prize for Colyer, the chair of his 2024 campaign operation in Kansas, who built his gubernatorial campaign message around supporting the Republican president.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
For years, Knicks owner James Dolan has been scorned by fans.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
Those who believed in finvenkismo scorned Raŭmismo.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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As was ever the case, the Babe returned fire, answering the heckles by mocking the Cubs players and disdaining their fans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
Musk has long disdained the norms that the executives who run giant public companies typically embrace.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
New relationships will inevitably open up old wounds like abandonment and rejection.—
Sabrina Romanoff,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
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Demie worked closely with the show’s makeup and wardrobe stylists to craft Maddy’s look, helping the character evolve from someone obsessed with being the perfect girlfriend in the first half of Season 1, to a bolder, hyper-feminine rejection of the softness her boyfriend had expected of her.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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At the same time, the resolution calls for humane immigration policies that uphold justice and mercy, strongly rejecting nativism, discrimination and racial or ethnic hostility.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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As of last month, according to Yahoo Sports, more than $125 million worth of NIL compensation that had been promised to athletes had been rejected by the clearinghouse or was still under review.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuff. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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