1
: a blow especially with the hand
2
: something that strikes with telling force
buffeted; buffeting; buffets
1
: to strike sharply especially with the hand : cuff
2
: to strike repeatedly : batter
the waves buffeted the shore
3
: to drive, force, move, or attack by or as if by repeated blows
schools being buffeted by budget cuts
: to make one's way especially under difficult conditions
plural buffets
1
furniture
: sideboard sense 1
2
a
: a counter for refreshments
went back to the buffet for a second helping
b
chiefly British
: a restaurant operated as a public convenience (as in a railway station)
c
: a meal set out on a buffet or table for ready access and informal service
a restaurant that offers a breakfast buffet
3
: an assortment of options or offerings : variety
Once you're up there among the clouds, you'll have a buffet of skiing options.—
Brad Wetzler
Brad Wetzler
: served informally especially as a buffet (see buffet entry 3 sense 2c)
a buffet meal
buffet luncheons
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Verb
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lather
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pommel
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slate
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
- work over
Noun (2)
Examples of buffet in a Sentence
Noun (1)
delivered a powerful buffet to the side of the prisoner's head
Verb
The strong winds buffeted the ship.
fierce winds buffeted the small sailboat
Noun (2)
a buffet completed the kitchen set
Recent Examples on the Web
Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Nov. 2024
Instead of a boring buffet, have chef stations cooking up holiday favorites throughout the party.
—Nasha Smith, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 9 Nov. 2024
Even naming the swirl of emotions that may buffet you in the coming days can be productive.
—Alice Park, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
Julian Kheel, CNN Underscored, 1 June 2020
See all Example Sentences for buffet 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Dinner was a buffet of classic Jamaican fare catered by a nearby restaurant Miss T’s Kitchen, so that newcomers could enjoy the local cuisine.
—Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Nov. 2024
Instead of a boring buffet, have chef stations cooking up holiday favorites throughout the party.
—Nasha Smith, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Verb
Bonds suffered one of their all-time worst years, buffeted by a one-two punch of spiraling inflation and rising interest rates.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 9 Nov. 2024
Even naming the swirl of emotions that may buffet you in the coming days can be productive.
—Alice Park, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Customers can expect to see non-buffet-style food options, and social distancing will likely require a reduction in the number of people allowed in the usually crowded lounges.
—Julian Kheel, CNN Underscored, 1 June 2020
See all Example Sentences for buffet
Dictionary Entries Near buffet
Cite this Entry
“Buffet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buffet. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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