as in polished
having a shiny surface or finish
a beautiful, buffed antique table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rubbed
to make smooth by friction
she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smoothed
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
the janitor buffed the lobby floor until it shone
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 buffed
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
An alternative to foundation, they’re layered under or with your makeup and buffed out to add a veil of glow.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2026
Whatever bumps or rock flakes the cliff once had were buffed smooth by glacial erosion over the course of millions of years.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
Fronting the glittering waters of the Atlantic, the Louis XIII-style promenade is currently undergoing a multi-million-dollar renewal, its granite tiles buffed and smoothed, vegetation planted, and its sea lions by sculptor José Fioravanti returned to their former glory.
—Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Most metal hardware can be cleaned with the vinegar solution and buffed to a shine.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Some scratches can be buffed out.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
The tips come in various shapes and lengths and are filed and buffed before being polished.
—Georgia Day, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2025
The main hatch is already open, a small mercy for my purposes, and my torchlight shines back on a wooden ladder, paint worn in the centre of each rung where the crew’s footsteps buffed it away.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
The Romantic Tour is a lavish spectacle that is buffed to perfection, with every light swirl and confetti drop precisely calibrated.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
An alternative to foundation, they’re layered under or with your makeup and buffed out to add a veil of glow.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2026
Whatever bumps or rock flakes the cliff once had were buffed smooth by glacial erosion over the course of millions of years.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
Fronting the glittering waters of the Atlantic, the Louis XIII-style promenade is currently undergoing a multi-million-dollar renewal, its granite tiles buffed and smoothed, vegetation planted, and its sea lions by sculptor José Fioravanti returned to their former glory.
—Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Most metal hardware can be cleaned with the vinegar solution and buffed to a shine.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Some scratches can be buffed out.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
The tips come in various shapes and lengths and are filed and buffed before being polished.
—Georgia Day, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2025
The main hatch is already open, a small mercy for my purposes, and my torchlight shines back on a wooden ladder, paint worn in the centre of each rung where the crew’s footsteps buffed it away.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buffed
Adjective
-
Plenty of Sellers’ struggles could be pinned on offensive play calling and a lack of polished talent around him.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, the designer recommends trying a combination such as polished nickel paired with warm brass or gold.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Justin Brazeau skated over to the Penguins captain and rubbed the back of his noggin for good measure.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Kuroda mentioned other small incidents that rubbed him the wrong way as well.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Once it’s smoothed, lay a heavy object on the area for some time to anchor the vinyl back in place.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The result is smoothed cuticles and split ends, with a soft to the touch feel.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Gast Studio’s Stem Vase, on show at group exhibition Deoron, features glossy oversized thorn shapes that give the object both a hostile presence and a pleasingly jagged profile, like a rose stem on steroids.—
Francesca Perry,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Her company then put out a glossy launch video promoting its product’s wondrous new features, neglecting to mention that the tech didn’t actually work.—
Theo Baker,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The rigid jean is hand-sanded to emphasize its fullness.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Attention spans are being sanded down, vocabulary is becoming consumer-friendly.—
Hannah Gold,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As the doc’s creation Rocky (John Rivera), usually depicted as a glistening depiction of male beauty, appears here as a non-Adonis — a beefy, WWF-looking contender, in singlet and without a clue.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Its four decks are decorated in sumptuous textiles, glistening marble, and deep colors accented with pops of gold—not to mention many replicas of Klimt’s work.—
Susan B. Barnes,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
According to court records obtained by USA TODAY, a class action lawsuit against Wren Kitchens US subsidiary was filed alleging that the company violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The National Religious Broadcasters association filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission, asking the agency to investigate ABC.—
David Bauder,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The elevated bamboo design looks sleek in any space, whether used as a writing desk, makeup vanity, or side table, and has earned numerous five-star ratings for its sturdiness, quality, and ease of assembly.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Apr. 2026
-
At first glance, this appears to be a standard coffee table with a sleek, mid-century modern design.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffed. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
