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
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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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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of buff
Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
History buffs will love The Rock of Cashel, a medieval site in County Tipperary, roughly a two-hour drive from Dublin or Galway.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
Lauren Murdoch-Smith, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
If the bloom's appearance bothers you, remove it by applying a small amount of oil, such as cooking oil or baby oil, to a soft cloth, then gently buffing it away in a circular motion.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
Noun
But not all local officials and history buffs have bought into the idea of moving the Red Oak Victory.
—Verb
After that, gently buff the nail to create a smooth, even surface.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
Noun
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For the third year, restaurants in Hayward are enticing food lovers with the opportunity to save money while discovering new places and revisiting old favorites.—
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Leigh Lucas’ book of poetry reckons with the death of a lover.—
Noun
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Maya Jama has joined other women in imploring Elon Musk‘s AI platform to respect their privacy after a deepfake nudes scandal has caused outrage.—
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Buchloh’s best essays romp through the history of genres—the female nude, the family portrait, the history painting, the Romantic landscape—to show how Richter’s work mines the past for the future.—
Verb
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The constant friction of material rubbing on material wears the clothing out faster, so when there is more time, as in a regular or deep clean cycle, the garment fibers can wear down faster.—
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The events occurred in and around the lawless border of Venezuela and Colombia, where spies, smugglers and gun runners rub shoulders and distrust their own shadow.—
Verb
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But the majority of all diamonds – 90% – are cut and polished in India, which holds a towering tariff rate of 50%.—
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Prinbara Satin Maxi Skirt This satin maxi skirt is the definition of versatile—comfortable enough for all-day wear yet polished enough to anchor a night-out look.—
Noun
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As the humpback plunges back below the surface the remoras, also known as sucker fish, return to the whale, sticking their landings with the timing and precision of Olympic gymnasts.—
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Remove any canes that are crossing or rubbing against each other, as well as any suckers that have formed.—
Noun
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While the film — about a woman torn between two brothers — didn’t have anything that would qualify as nudity today, its scenes of Bardot undressing and dancing barefoot to African music scandalized viewers in France and America.—
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The Florida Legislature outlawed full nudity at beaches, and the state then tried closing Haulover’s nude beach in 1994.—
Verb
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However, deteriorating or disturbed lead paint — through sanding or stripping — can create toxic dust that poses serious health hazards, particularly to children.—
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Additional changes in the new beach include a stabilizing stone wall, dry prairie grasses to deter birds and sand with larger grain size.—
Verb
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As a result, this is not a last-minute, turn-up-and-go destination, but experienced tour operators can help smooth the path.—
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Check out more skin-smoothing K-beauty favorites below.—
Cite this Entry
“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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