re ‧ buff /rɪˈbʌf/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: Early French rebuffer , from Old Italian ribuffare 'to criticize angrily' ]
formal an unkind or unfriendly answer to a friendly suggestion or offer of help SYN snub :
He received a humiliating rebuff from his manager.
—rebuff verb [transitive] :
He rebuffed all her suggestions.
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THESAURUS
▪ refuse to say firmly that you will not do something that someone has asked you to do:
I asked the bank for a loan, but they refused.
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When they refused to leave, we had to call the police.
▪ say no spoken to say that you will not do something when someone asks you:
They asked me so nicely that I couldn’t really say no.
▪ turn somebody/something down to refuse to accept an offer or invitation, or a formal request:
They offered me the job but I turned it down.
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The board turned down a request for $25,000 to sponsor an art exhibition.
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I’ve already been turned down by three colleges.
▪ reject to refuse to accept an idea, offer, suggestion, or plan:
They rejected the idea because it would cost too much money.
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The Senate rejected a proposal to limit the program to two years.
▪ decline formal to politely refuse to accept an offer or invitation, or refuse to do something:
She has declined all offers of help.
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A palace spokesman declined to comment on the rumours.
▪ deny to refuse to allow someone to do something or enter somewhere:
They were denied permission to publish the book.
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He was denied access to the US.
▪ veto to officially refuse to allow a law or plan, or to refuse to accept someone’s suggestion:
Congress vetoed the bill.
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The suggestion was quickly vetoed by the other members of the team.
▪ disallow to officially refuse to accept something because someone has broken the rules, or not done it in the correct way:
The goal was disallowed by the referee.
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The court decided to disallow his evidence.
▪ rebuff formal to refuse to accept someone’s offer, request, or suggestion:
The company raised its offer to $6 billion, but was rebuffed.
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He was politely rebuffed when he suggested holding the show in Dublin.
▪ give somebody/something the thumbs down informal to refuse to allow or accept a plan or suggestion:
The plan was given the thumbs down by the local authority.
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They gave us the thumbs down.