Did you know?
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
Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025
Weisfield said he’s asked county officials to waive the rule, but was rebuffed.
—Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
When his entreaties for a post were rebuffed, Guiteau shot the president.
—Mo Rocca, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2025
Post-match, the defender rebuffed speculation over his future during an exchange with a fan who asked him to stay.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 22 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 10 Feb. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share