Standard Lemma guide

rebuff

noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ɹɪˈbʌf/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌf
  • /ɹiːˈbʌf/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R IH0 B AH1 F Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: R IY0 B AH1 F Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A sudden resistance or refusal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He was surprised by her quick rebuff to his proposal.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Repercussion, or beating back.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To buff again.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

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

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: slight

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: discourtesy, offense, offence, offensive activity

Narrower terms: snub, cut, cold shoulder, silent treatment

6

noun

Meaning 6

an instance of driving away or warding off

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: snub, repulse

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rejection

7

verb

Meaning 7

reject outright and bluntly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She snubbed his proposal

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: snub, repel

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: reject, spurn, freeze off, scorn, pooh-pooh, disdain, turn down

8

verb

Meaning 8

force or drive back

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • repel the attacker
  • fight off the onslaught
  • rebuff the attack

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: repel, repulse, fight off, drive back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defend

History

Etymology

From obsolete French rebuffer, from Middle French rebuffer (compare French rebiffer (“to rise up, revolt”)), from Italian ribuffare.

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English buff English rebuff From re- + buff.

Across languages

Translations

54 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: неочакван отказ (neočakvan otkaz) — refusal
  • Chinese Mandarin: 回绝 (huíjué) — refusal
  • Czech: odmítnutí — refusal
  • Czech: zavržení — refusal
  • Finnish: torjunta — refusal
  • French: rebuffade — refusal
  • German: Abfuhr — refusal
  • German: Zurückweisung — refusal
  • Italian: rifiuto — refusal
  • Italian: ricusa — refusal
  • Italian: ricusazione — refusal
  • Italian: ripulsa — refusal
  • Italian: rigetto — refusal
  • Latin: repulsa — refusal
  • Māori: whakapeka — refusal
  • Māori: whakahoe — refusal
  • Russian: отпо́р (otpór) — refusal
  • Russian: отка́з (otkáz) — refusal
  • Scottish Gaelic: diùltadh — refusal
  • Spanish: rechazo — refusal
  • Swedish: avvisande — refusal
  • Turkish: ret — refusal
  • Turkish: tersleme — refusal
  • Bulgarian: отказвам (otkazvam) — refuse
  • Bulgarian: отхвърлям (othvǎrljam) — refuse
  • Czech: odmítnout — refuse
  • Finnish: torjua — refuse
  • French: rejeter — refuse
  • French: refuser — refuse
  • German: Abfuhr erteilen — refuse
  • German: zurückweisen — refuse
  • Hungarian: elutasít — refuse
  • Hungarian: visszautasít — refuse
  • Italian: ricusare — refuse
  • Italian: respingere — refuse
  • Italian: rifiutare — refuse
  • Italian: ripudiare — refuse
  • Italian: reclinare — refuse
  • Māori: hoe — refuse
  • Māori: whakapeka — refuse
  • Māori: whakahoe — refuse
  • Russian: отка́зывать (otkázyvatʹ) — refuse
  • Russian: отказа́ть (otkazátʹ) — refuse
  • Russian: отверга́ть (otvergátʹ) — refuse
  • Russian: отве́ргнуть (otvérgnutʹ) — refuse
  • Russian: дава́ть отпо́р (davátʹ otpór) — refuse
  • Russian: дать отпо́р (datʹ otpór) — refuse
  • Scottish Gaelic: diùlt — refuse
  • Spanish: rechazar — refuse
  • Spanish: recusar — refuse
  • Spanish: desairar — refuse
  • Turkish: reddetmek — refuse
  • Turkish: terslemek — refuse
  • Vietnamese: cự tuyệt — refuse