n. 1 rejection, snub, check, denial, repulse, refusal, dismissal, defeat, repudiation, slight, discouragement, Colloq cold shoulder, cut, put-down, brush-off, Slang US brush Ellie's friendly approach was met with an abrupt rebuff
v. 2 reject, snub, check, deny, repel, drive away, spurn, repulse, refuse, dismiss, defeat, repudiate, slight, ignore, send (someone) to Coventry, Colloq give (someone) the cold shoulder, cut, put (someone) down, brush (someone) off, give (someone) the brush-off, tell (someone) where to go or get off, tell (someone) where to get lost, Slang give (someone) his or her walking papers, freeze (someone) out , US give (someone) the brush, show (someone) the door She rebuffed everyone who proposed marriage to her, preferring to remain a spinster