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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
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024
But the fact that CBS has continued to rebuff his demand suggests the network will likely continue to be a target of the Republican presidential nominee.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024
When rebuffed, investigators obtained a search warrant from a judge.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024
Election 2024 More Michigan judge rebuffs GOP bid to block some overseas, military family ballots
Harris claims Trump lost manufacturing jobs.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
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 21 Nov. 2024.
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