rebuff
/ɹɪˈbʌf/ · re·buff
noun
- A sudden resistance or refusal. She met his invitation with a sharp rebuff.
- A beating back; a repulse. The army's rebuff at the border halted the advance.
verb
- To refuse or reject someone or something. He rebuffed the offer with a curt email.
- To offer sudden or harsh resistance; to push back. The defender rebuffed the attackers at every turn.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? The word 'rebuff' appears in Shakespeare’s 'Much Ado About Nothing', where Claudio rebuffs Hero’s advances, marking one of its earliest literary uses.