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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of buff
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2026
Silicon Valley history buffs know Ronald Wayne’s story well.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026
Lily Wohlner, Allure, 5 Mar. 2026
Wipe away the toothpaste residue with a damp cloth and buff the wood with a soft, dry cloth.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for buff
Noun
Appealing to both foodies and nature buffs, the Food Trails have become a popular way to explore the Burren and take in its ancient topography, while also getting a taste of the people, brands, and flavors that are driving today’s Ireland.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2026
Silicon Valley history buffs know Ronald Wayne’s story well.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
Go in with the glass cuticle pusher to gently soften and push back cuticles (which can help nails look longer), plus the glass polisher, which buffs the nail surface smooth for smoother, better, longer-lasting polish application.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 5 Mar. 2026
Wipe away the toothpaste residue with a damp cloth and buff the wood with a soft, dry cloth.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
Noun
-
The Granville Suite, once military reception rooms, is named after Christine Granville, rumored lover of Ian Fleming and apparently Churchill’s favorite spy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
While the storm is looming, there are new glimmers of possibility—friends can become lovers, strangers can become friends on the subway, the supermarket aisles are charged with meaning.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Also present this weekend was Joan Semmel—a painter focused on sexuality, a surprising take on nudes, and her own aging body—a friend of my mother’s from decades of summers spent in East Hampton’s Springs neighborhood.—
Vanessa Grigoriadis,
Vanity Fair,
10 Mar. 2026
-
In ancient Mesopotamia 5,000 years ago, beautiful nudes depict both ideal women and goddesses.—
Anna Swartwood House,
The Conversation,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mona says, rub her down with alcohol, then some Vicks, put the kettle on for the hot water bottle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Nakua discussed touchdown celebrations on YouTuber Adin Ross' stream, and, in the video, Ross instructed Nakua to spike the ball, flex and then rub his hands together.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Swap to the higher grit stone and repeat the whole process to polish and set the edge.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The program acts almost like a navigation map for individuals intent on entering the sector, from polishing resumes to grasping industry dynamics.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the tip of the hectocotylus is covered in small sucker cups that are structurally identical to the sensory suckers on their regular hunting arms.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The worst part though, is all the suckers kept coming up from the pear roots.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Instead of explicit nudity, the film rests on stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi to deliver the heady energy.—
Emily Maskell,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
-
An easy comparison with the version available concurrently on PPOV showed the omission of Sidney Sweeney’s partial nudity in the steamy scenes that helped turn Paul Feig’s rebooting of the 1990s erotic thriller into one of the year’s megahits.—
Gustavo Turner,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So, Navon and her husband undertook a full restoration, sanding and staining them a honey-oak hue that warms up the home from the ground up.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This could be older lead from repairs and repainting involving sanding down old lead paint, usually not from a fire.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Scrape batter into prepared baking sheet and, using a medium offset spatula, gently spread to edges, smoothing surface.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
-
This collagen cream can help even out dark spots and smooth your skin for a healthy, luminous complexion.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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