rebuff
Americannoun
-
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
-
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.
His way of impatiently rebuffing Salome’s inappropriate advances is to give her singing lessons.
From Los Angeles Times
Senegal's government responded by calling for an investigation into "suspected corruption" at Caf, a claim rebuffed by the governing body's president, Patrice Motsepe, who has been at pains to point out the appeal board's independence.
From BBC
While Unilever successfully rebuffed that deal, it suddenly needed new answers to questions from investors about flagging growth.
He asked allies to help safeguard the strait but then said the U.S. didn’t the help — after allies rebuffed his pleas.
From Los Angeles Times
The Pentagon, satisfied with its Patriot missiles, rebuffed them.
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.
