had been rebuffing

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of rebuff.
  rebuff

  noun

  a blunt or abrupt rejection, as of a person making advances.

Related Words

• chide
• deny
• dismiss
• disregard
• fend off
• ignore
• oppose
• rebuke
• refuse
• reject
• repudiate
• resist
• snub
• spurn
• turn down