🚫 To reject 🚫 A sharp refusal 🛡️ To drive back

to rebuff

18 7.7

To say no to someone or their offer in a quick rude way

verb
/rɪˈbʌf/

: rechazar

After several attempts to discuss the issue, the manager rebuffed my concerns harshly in the meeting.
rebuffed the president

So when one actually tried, they rebuffed us in a nasty way.

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Examples

To some, it appears as if the new Taiwanese president has been rebuffed at every turn.

Academic text (2002)
The clubs had previously petitioned the NAACP for legal assistance but were rebuffed.

Academic text (2008)
I thought it would be unwise to rebuff him.

The Wife (2018)
Our Secretary of State, James Baker held an historic meeting in Geneva, only to be totally rebuffed this past weekend.
But she rebuffed my affections.

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
So she really rebuffed Henry's advances until she got to the point where Henry offered her a legitimate path, a hand in marriage and a crown.

The Game of Crowns: The Tudors (2023)
Nyerere was greatly displeased when Mugabe rebuffed his plea not to send troops to the Congo.

Academic text (2000)
In subsequent interviews with reporters, Yergan rebuffed suggestions that the petition was improper or disloyal.

Academic text (1997)
When I asked her out, she promptly rebuffed my invitation without any explanation.
He rebuffed the job offer because the salary was too low for his skills.

Synonyms

to turn down

vsto rebuff

312 2.9

Refuse an offer, invitation, or request

is more abrupt and less neutral than a plain refusal

to decline

vsto rebuff

272 3.4

To say no politely to an offer or invitation

is a harsher, more ungracious form of refusing

to shoot down

vsto rebuff

Informal

31 3.8

Say no to an idea or plan in a sudden, strong way

rejects people or suggestions abruptly and without politeness

to spurn

vsto rebuff

26 7.7

To refuse a person or an offer in a rude way

is an abrupt refusal but less focused on contemptuous feeling

to disdain

vsto rebuff

15 6.4

To treat a person or thing as not worthy of respect

is the act of abrupt refusal rather than merely showing contempt

to snub

vsto rebuff

7 6.3

To ignore someone on purpose to show disrespect

is similarly abrupt but focuses on quick rejection rather than ignoring

to repel

vsto rebuff

3 4.8

Refuse a request or offer in a blunt way

does the same but with a more ungracious tone

to give someone the brush-off

vsto rebuff

Informal

2 7.5

To reject someone quickly and rudely

is similar but stresses abruptness rather than mere curt tone

to freeze off

vsto rebuff

Informal

1 8.5

Treat someone in a cold way and ignore them to show dislike

is the same abrupt rejection but not necessarily openly contemptuous

to cold-shoulder

vsto rebuff

Informal

1 7.7

To ignore someone on purpose to show you are angry or unfriendly

is a direct abrupt refusal rather than passive ignoring

to give the elbow

vsto rebuff

9.0

To end a relationship or stop someone from working for you

is a sudden unfriendly refusal but applies more broadly

to give the mitten

vsto rebuff

Archaic

9.9

To end a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend

is similar in abruptness but used in more situations

Antonyms

to accept

793 1.0

To take something someone offers, for example a gift or invitation

to welcome

583 1.0

Greet someone in a friendly way when they arrive

How Harsh

to snub

7 6.3

to rebuff

18 7.7

to refuse

716 1.7

to decline

272 3.4

Surface Forms

rebuff infinitive

rebuffed past

rebuffed past participle

rebuffing present participle

rebuffs third person singular

Morphology

rebuff = buff (opaque) = re + buff

Historically the word is re- + 'buff' meaning a blow, but that base is obsolete and the modern sense of abrupt rejection is not predictable from the parts.

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the verb rebuff is to think of re- 'back' plus buff 'a push or blow', so to rebuff someone is to 'push them back' with a sudden refusal and thus reject them abruptly.