REBUFF

rebuff, slight

(noun) a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

rebuff, snub, repulse

(noun) an instance of driving away or warding off

rebuff, snub, repel

(verb) reject outright and bluntly; “She snubbed his proposal”

repel, repulse, fight off, rebuff, drive back

(verb) force or drive back; “repel the attacker”; “fight off the onslaught”; “rebuff the attack”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

rebuff (plural rebuffs)

A sudden resistance or refusal.

Repercussion, or beating back.

Verb

rebuff (third-person singular simple present rebuffs, present participle rebuffing, simple past and past participle rebuffed)

To refuse; to offer sudden or harsh resistance; to turn down or shut out.

Etymology 2

Verb

rebuff (third-person singular simple present rebuffs, present participle rebuffing, simple past and past participle rebuffed)

(transitive) To buff again.

Anagrams

• buffer

Source: Wiktionary


Re*buff", n. Etym: [It. ribuffo, akin to ribuffare to repulse; pref. ri- (L. re-) + buffo puff. Cf. Buff to strike, Buffet a blow.]

1. Repercussion, or beating back; a quick and sudden resistance. The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud. Milton.

2. Sudden check; unexpected repulse; defeat; refusal; repellence; rejection of solicitation.

Re*buff", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rebuffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Rebuffing.]

Definition: To beat back; to offer sudden resistance to; to check; to repel or repulse violently, harshly, or uncourteously.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

29 May 2025

CRITICAL

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Coffee Trivia

Espresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method that originated in Italy. When making an espresso, a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure forces through finely-ground coffee beans. It has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages. Its smaller serving size will take three shots to equal a mug of standard brewed coffee.

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