as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly
took her rebuff in stride, and still greeted her cousin with a friendly smile the next time they met
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to spurn
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rebuff
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Braced by that humiliating rebuff, the Service wasted no time in getting serious and rallying around reform.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Even the rest of the old-schoolers seem oddly content with the new harmonious state of the world and rebuff Carol’s efforts to mobilize.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebuff
Noun
The latest rebuff of state overreach was the dismissal last week of the highly questionable felony case against respected Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly brought by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Braced by that humiliating rebuff, the Service wasted no time in getting serious and rallying around reform.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
The corrupt state judiciary will continue to rebuff the attempts of state Auditor Diana DiZoglio to audit the corrupt state Legislature.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Even the rest of the old-schoolers seem oddly content with the new harmonious state of the world and rebuff Carol’s efforts to mobilize.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuff
Noun
-
The write-off trap There’s a specific kind of institutional damage that happens when hiring managers and leaders respond to the stare with dismissal rather than diagnosis.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel is speaking out as a wide-ranging review of the football program unfolds after Sherrone Moore's dismissal.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a flurry of rapid-fire votes, most Senate Republicans spurned a group of measures Democrats said would lower everyday costs for Americans while separately moving to approve $70 billion for immigration enforcement.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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However, four of the signatories spurned the agreement and resumed fighting after the 2021 army takeover.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Skipping that meeting and quitting OPEC at the same time will be seen as a snub to Saudi’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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Even back then, the reports were that Urban didn’t take the snub well.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jones also trumpeted his goal to phase out Georgia's income tax, but an ambitious cut withered after being scorned by Kemp, who is wrapping up his final term in office, and state House Republicans.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Around another corner is Hagar in the Wilderness (1875), still inhabiting the wasteland around her after being scorned by Abraham.—
Tyehimba Jess,
ARTnews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Larger than life, his creation repulses and torments him, and Victor spends the rest of his life both running from it and trying to destroy it.—
Ann Kowal Smith,
Forbes,
16 Dec. 2024
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The optical, stop-motion, and puppetry effects alone should make Brain Damage a priority on your watchlist, but Henenlotter’s film excites and repulses on a deeper level.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2024
Verb
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At his behest Aurangzeb—who disdained poetry—sent agents across India and Persia to assemble a literary circle befitting her.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
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In Sondheim’s body of work, Okrent searches for the autobiographical resonances that Sondheim himself mostly disdained.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Yet spiritually agnostic voters may take comfort in Talarico’s rejection of Paxton’s willful mix of Church and state.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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The process of peer review is often shrouded in secrecy to allow colleagues to criticize one another without professional repercussions, but one paper found that special issues tend to have faster turnaround times for articles, as well as lower rejection rates.—
Anil Oza,
STAT,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The court rejected the argument, concluding that a prospective rate hearing — unlike that on the response time — would be considered contested and the utility would have the opportunity to challenge the finding of imprudence then.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
29 Apr. 2026
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The legislation passed with broad bipartisan support in the Senate, but some Republicans rejected the bill, opposing earmarking millions more to maintain the fortified Capitol and equip it with the staff necessary to keep the screenings going.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rebuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuff. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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