Dictionary Definition
rebuff
Noun
1 a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an
expression of anger or disapproval) [syn: slight]
Verb
2 force or drive back; "repel the attacker";
"fight off the onslaught"; "rebuff the attack" [syn: repel, repulse, fight off,
drive
back]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
- /rɪˈbʌf/, /rI'bVf/
- Rhymes with: -ʌf
Noun
- A sudden resistance or refusal.
- He was surprised by her quick rebuff to his proposal.
Verb
- To refuse; to offer sudden or harsh resistance; to turn down or shut out.
- To buff again.
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
abjuration, abjure, abjurement, backfire, backlash, backlashing, bafflement, balk, be proof against, bear up,
bear up against, beat back, beat off, block, boomerang, bounce, bound, brush, brush aside, brush off,
brush-off, carom, challenge, chase, chase away, chase off,
check, checkmate, chuck, chuck out, chucking, chucking out, cold
shoulder, cold-shoulder, combative reaction, complaint, confusion, contemn, contempt, contradict, contradiction, contrecoup, counter, counteraction, cut, cut direct, declination, decline, declining, defeat, defiance, defy, demur, denial, deny, despisal, despise, despising, disapproval, disapprove, discard, disclaim, disclamation, discomfiture, discount, discounting, discouragement, disdain, dismiss, dismissal, disown, disownment, dispute, disregard, dissent, dissentience, drive away,
drive back, endure,
except, exception, exclude, exclusion, fend, fend off, flat refusal,
foil, forswear, fractiousness, frustration, high-hat,
hinder, hold at bay, hold
off, hold out, hold up, humiliation, ignore, ignoring, keep at bay, keep
off, kick, kickback, negativism, nonacceptance, nonapproval, nonconsideration,
noncooperation,
not receive, objection, obstinacy, obstruct, opposition, pack off,
parry, pass by, pass up,
passing by, passive resistance, point-blank refusal, protest, push aside, push back,
put back, put-down, putting away, putting out, reaction, rebound, rebut, recalcitrance, recalcitrancy, recalcitration, recant, recantation, recoil, refractoriness, refusal, refuse, refuse to consider,
refuse to receive, reject, rejection, reluctance, remonstrance, renitence, renitency, renounce, renouncement, repel, repellence, repellency, repercussion, repudiate, repudiation, repulse, repulsion, resilience, resist, resistance, reversal, reverse, revolt, ricochet, rout, scout, scouting, send away, send off,
send packing, setback,
short shrift, shove away, slight, sneer, sniff, snort, snub, spring, spurn, spurning, stand, stand up, stave off,
stop, summary negative, the
cold shoulder, the go-by, throw away, throw out, throwing out,
thrust back, turn aside, turn away, turn away from, turn back, turn
out, turning out, uncooperativeness,
upstage, waive, ward off, withstand, withstanding