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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
Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 June 2025
Earlier this year, the PIF offered to invest $1.5 billion into PGA Tour Enterprises, the tour’s commercial entity, but was rebuffed, with the Saudis’ insistence that LIV continue to operate proving a sticking point, according to a report by the Guardian.
—Justin Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
That was true in the session that just ended, as legislators shut down many requests from the Ethics Commission, keeping the agency on a modest budget and rebuffing measures that would have given it more latitude in its investigations.
—Mary Steurer, ProPublica, 9 June 2025
He’s also been rebuffed in attempts to land a Knicks coaching job and has needed to buy game tickets whereas other legends have been invited guests.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebuff
Cite this Entry
“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebuff. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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