buff 1 of 2

noun

ˈbəf How to pronounce buff (audio)
Definition of buffnext
1
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nude
the state of having no clothes on one's body protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buff

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buff

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure the janitor buffed the lobby floor until it shone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of buff
Noun
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Honolulu Aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike should visit the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, located on Ford Island, an active military base on Oahu (visitors are shuttled from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center). — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2026 There’s a citizens stamp advisory committee that’s selected by the postmaster general, and it’s made up of historians and scholars and history buffs. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
Rapinchuk adds that a Magic Eraser is a useful cleaning tool for buffing out scuffs and marks. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 24 Aug. 2026 Start by pushing back your cuticles, lightly buffing your nails, and filing the tips for a nice and tidy canvas. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
  1. lover
  2. nude
  3. rub
  4. polish
  5. sucker
  6. nudity
  7. sand
  8. smooth
Noun
  • Art lovers should aim to be there in April when Joali hosts its annual Imagi-Nature Art Festival.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The undead hero initially turns agains the X-Men and serves Apocalypse, but Gambit’s lover Rogue is able to save him by harnessing the enormous power of a Celestial and offering to sacrifice herself.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • There was no shortage of high-octane sensuality, albeit pared down using nudes, champagne and pastels, including baby pink.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • That’s how many options Fwee Lip&Cheek Blurry Pudding Pot has, across nudes, corals, pinks, reds, mauves, and roses.
    — Sarah Han, Allure, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of nude
Verb
  • Some of these practices have been reported on before, such as rubbing deodorant against colored pages from magazines to make eye shadow.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The story takes place around the Club Rumba Royale, where white Europeans and Congolese citizens rub shoulders, and where the captivating melodies of rumba merge with aspirations and fiery debates of independence.
    — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of rub
Verb
  • Especially now, younger kids are so immersed in social media and people are trying to fabricate themselves or polish and airbrush their lives and appearances.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Each refillable case secures with a satisfying magnetic closure, and is polished with an alabaster finish.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of polish
Noun
  • The theory seems to be that there will always be another crop of suckers willing to pump money into the ecosystem, so the market will provide.
    — Joseph Kahn, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • These sucker shoots can quickly form a thicket of stems that are unsightly, inherently weak, and prone to storm damage if allowed to mature.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of sucker
Noun
  • But much like the way studios and directors of the 1960s and ’70s embraced the once-taboo profanity and nudity, this year AI has found a new wave of advocates eager to go public.
    — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But that brief flash of cartoon baby nudity continues to bother prudes, decades after the book’s first run.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of nudity
Verb
  • The roughly 7,300-square-foot residence has been adapted for contemporary living without completely sanding away what came before.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Bass delves into the ease (or difficulty) of loving people in terms anyone could grasp, sanding down the uniqueness of Cyrus’s viewpoint.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of sand
Verb
  • To smooth checkout, big brands are adding real-time shipping calculations directly into the shopping process.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Wireless, shaping and smoothing bra styles and underwear packs are also available.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of smooth

Phrases Containing buff

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buds
buff
buffalo
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Cite this Entry

“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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