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
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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
Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Gibbons is a beard-history buff and a baseball fan.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2025
Declaring its intent to buff older characters is quite a break with tradition.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
Noun
Austria’s capital has plenty to keep culture buffs happy including Schönbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the Habsburgs, the Vienna State Opera and numerous art museums like the Leopold, the Albertina and the Belvedere Palace which houses Gustav Klimt’s popular painting, The Kiss.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Gibbons is a beard-history buff and a baseball fan.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
Various Metals Fine to medium-fine-grade steel wool can buff, polish, and remove stains from certain metals like stainless steel, aluminum, chrome, copper, brass, and zinc.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2025
Declaring its intent to buff older characters is quite a break with tradition.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
Noun
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Despite his hardened outlook on Heis, Rema remains a lover at heart.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The must-read Just under a two-hour drive northwest from L.A., the Ojai Valley offers outdoors lovers an opportunity to unwind and reconnect with the world around them.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
After going back and forth on the nuances of milky versus nude, Glamour editors decided to launch a formal investigation.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
13 Mar. 2025
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The way Little portrays male nudes against architecture in classical poses brings to mind sculptures of Ancient Greek Gods and the idealised male bodies depicted in ancient Greek and Roman sculpture.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Thinking fast, the kid rubs his fists in broken glass, instantly upgrading his wimpy, untrained knuckles into deadly weapons.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The seams don't rub, even with a heavy pack on, and the cut is roomy without being too baggy.—
Scott Gilbertson,
WIRED,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Loungewear sets are a common airport outfit, but Markle’s striped button-down shirt and matching flared pants looked comfortable, but also polished enough to wear to work or dinner.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2025
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Plus, like all Essie polishes, the creamy formula is vegan, salon-quality, and priced affordably.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Football fans love the idea of the clean break, the fresh start, and the new era that is unlike anything that has come before.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
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Friend mourns fellow sports fan, avid journalist After working for several years as a reporter for various publications, his friend said, Sharkey started his own media venture with the help of his longtime friend Snapp.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Most stars sand down the rough edges for big-paycheck roles like that.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The lyrics on this album take a few spins to absorb, in part because Van Etten doesn’t sand down the sharp corners of her subjects.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
Billboard,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Diversification can smooth the ride and mitigate the impact on investors when a high-flyer like Tesla hits turbulence.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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The result is an indulgent, cooling formula that strengthens your skin barrier, smooths fine lines, and boosts your natural glow.—
Deanna Pai,
Allure,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Clip away suckers or small sprouts that are growing from the base of the tree.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Extended deterrence was a sham, and the people who relied on it were suckers.—
Gideon Rose,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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