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Many English verbs begin with the prefix re-, meaning “again” or “backward,” so we wouldn’t criticize you for drawing a connection between rebuff and buff, a verb meaning “to polish or shine.” But rebuff would beg to differ: this word comes to us from the Middle French verb rebuffer, which traces back to the Old Italian ribuffare, meaning “to reprimand.” (Buff, in contrast, comes from the Middle French noun buffle, meaning “wild ox”). A similar word, rebuke, shares the “criticize” sense of rebuff, but not the “reject” sense; one can rebuke another’s actions or policies, but one does not rebuke the advances of another, for example. Like rebuke, rebuff can also be used as a noun, as in “The proposal was met with a stern rebuff from the Board of Trustees.”
Examples of rebuff in a Sentence
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
So sold the Broncos were on Chubb, Elway rebuffed a trade proposal from the Bills, who offered the 12th, 22nd and 53rd picks to move up for Allen.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2025
Some individuals have rebuffed the idea of receiving a pardon, however, such as former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), both of whom served on the Jan. 6 committee.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
And voters are still rebuffing their efforts, soundly nixing measures to further restrict initiatives this fall.
—Joanna Allhands, The Arizona Republic, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rebuff 
Dictionary Entries Near rebuff
Cite this Entry
“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebuff. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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