rebuff
Americannoun
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a blunt or abrupt rejection, as of a person making advances.
-
a peremptory refusal of a request, offer, etc.; snub.
-
a check to action or progress.
verb (used with object)
verb
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to snub, reject, or refuse (a person offering help or sympathy, an offer of help, etc) abruptly or out of hand
-
to beat back (an attack); repel
noun
-
a blunt refusal or rejection; snub
-
any sudden check to progress or action
Other Word Forms
- rebuffable adjective
- rebuffably adverb
- unrebuffable adjective
- unrebuffed adjective
Etymology
Origin of rebuff
1580–90; < Middle French rebuffer < Italian ribuffare to disturb, reprimand, derivative of ribuffo (noun), equivalent to ri- re- + buffo puff; buffoon
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It had a previous attempt to buy the group rebuffed by politicians as it was majority-funded by Abu Dhabi's IMI group - which is owned in turn by the Abu Dhabi royal family.
From BBC
Not only did the University of California regents rebuff the stadium bid, they also decreed that no structure built on the Drake Stadium footprint could later be enlarged into a football stadium.
From Los Angeles Times
China has rebuffed Tsai's calls for talks, believing her to be a separatist.
From Reuters
Finally, less than an hour before the shooting, a guidance counselor asked Ebony Parker to search the boy for the gun after hearing a report about it, but he was rebuffed, the lawsuit alleges.
From Washington Post
Bragg’s office has repeatedly rebuffed Jordan’s and other GOP lawmakers’ demands and accused them of “unlawful political interference” with a criminal investigation.
From Washington Post
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
