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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
Sean Emery, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
One call for dismissal hinges on his allegation that the state has repeatedly rebuffed defense efforts to obtain evidentiary materials necessary for a proper defense.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Boston Partners’ Hart rebuffed such claims during his interview with CNBC.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
The publication has rebuffed his legal threats many times, including as recently as last week.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 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 21 Sep. 2025.
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