rebuff
pronunciation
How to pronounce rebuff in British English:
UK [rɪˈbʌf]
How to pronounce rebuff in American English:
US [rɪˈbʌf]
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- Noun:
- a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
- an instance of driving away or warding off
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- Verb:
- reject outright and bluntly
- force or drive back
Word Origin
- rebuff (v.)
- 1580s, from obsolete French rebuffer "to check, snub," from Italian ribuffare "to check, chide, snide," from ribuffo "a snub," from ri- "back" (from Latin re-, see re-) + buffo "a puff," of imitative origin (compare buffet (v.)). Related: Rebuffed; rebuffing.
- rebuff (n.)
- 1610s, from rebuff (v.), or from Middle French rebuffe or Italian ribuffo.
Example
- 1. Seeing jefferson 's rebuff of that characterization " was a spine-tingling moment , " france says .
- 2. Even as they rebuff some products , japan 's foreign customers are scrambling to get hold of others .
- 3. In algeria and india as well , two countries trying to forge an architectural style both modern and anti-colonial , concrete was used as a rebuff to ornamental colonial architecture .
- 4. Having encountered a second rebuff from tzipi livni in his efforts to form a broad government including her centrist kadima party , mr netanyahu is now wooing ehud barak , the labour leader , who does not conceal his desire to stay on at the defence ministry .
- 5. If mr bush continues to instruct israel to rebuff mr assad 's overtures , mr olmert will no doubt obey orders .