1
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something
he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nude
the state of having no clothes on one's body
protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buff
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction
she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
the janitor buffed the lobby floor until it shone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of buff
Matt Alderton, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Listen to this article CARLSBAD Genealogy buffs discuss tax records
The North San Diego County Genealogical Society will meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. May 27 at Carlsbad City Faraday Center, 1635 Faraday Ave.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025
The shift among women from angular, contoured sphinx to a softer, cleaner (albeit highly buffed and polished) look has also been reflected in men.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
Noun
Back in the lower 48, the San Diego Air & Space Museum is a bucket-list stop for aviation buffs, as is The Museum of Flight in Seattle.
—Matt Alderton, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Listen to this article CARLSBAD Genealogy buffs discuss tax records
The North San Diego County Genealogical Society will meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. May 27 at Carlsbad City Faraday Center, 1635 Faraday Ave.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
Verb
As a result, my pout always looks messy with uneven lines that are impossible to buff out with quick-drying, unbudgeable lip liners.
—Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025
The shift among women from angular, contoured sphinx to a softer, cleaner (albeit highly buffed and polished) look has also been reflected in men.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
Noun
-
Hard and Semi-Soft Cheeses Good news for cheese lovers everywhere!—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
7 June 2025
-
The online marketplace is full of fellow antique lovers selling finds that date all the way back to the 1940s.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
The colors range from sheer pinks and peaches to subtle nudes and leave you with a creamy sheen.—
Essence,
Essence,
20 May 2025
-
That means that within one year, every online platform will be required to remove both actual NCII and fake nudes generated by artificial intelligence within 48 hours of victims' reports or face steep penalties.—
Ashley Belanger – May 19,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2025
Verb
-
So in the long run, even somewhere like Oxford won't be rubbing their hands with glee if life is harder for Harvard — because Oxford and Harvard do projects together.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
5 June 2025
-
Privately, Musk rubbed a number of senior officials the wrong way during his time in government, and his complaints about a key legislative goal may further agitate his critics in the administration.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
The formal coupes are polished using specialty techniques to reveal a reflective, opalescent finish.—
Maria Conti,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2025
-
Elevated by fluted panels and a duo of discreet storage drawers, its look is polished enough to nimbly complement non-office settings.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
Cooper's post comes on the heels of a round of revelations that shocked fans.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
-
With all eyes inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse — and across the country on the national telecast — on Clark, fans enjoyed a spectacular performance by the ex-Hawkeyes star from the opening tip.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2025
Verb
-
Guesses ranged from great whites to sand tigers to makos.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
The hood's finish is created by layering a base coat of paint that is then sanded down with a Maybach pattern that is printed onto it, adding two coats of clear lacquer to complete the process.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
The researchers of the 2022 study also found that people on the receiving end of indirect attacks also end up responding with silence, politeness or attempts to smooth things over.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
The star of the show is its capsule technology, which kicks in right away to smooth things out.—
Deanna Pai,
Glamour,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
What the Nuggets need to do is find a sucker who is willing to talk themselves into the remaining $79 million over two years owed to Porter, while sending back a couple of quality role players.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
-
Peppers that produce large fruit should only be lightly pruned to remove unproductive suckers, but smaller-fruited pepper plants can be pruned a little more aggressively to boost airflow and branching.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share