buffalo
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for buffalo, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To intimidate, confuse, or trick someone, often to pressure them into doing something.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Borrowed via Portuguese or Spanish "búfalo," ultimately from Ancient Greek "boubalos," referring to an antelope or wild ox.
Full origin of buffalo →Frequently asked questions
What does “buffalo” mean?
The word “buffalo” means to intimidate, confuse, or trick someone, often to pressure them into doing something. In plain terms, as a verb, it usually means to bully or bluff someone into backing down or agreeing to something.
How do you pronounce “buffalo”?
“Buffalo” is pronounced BUHF-uhl-oh (/ˈbʌf.ə.loʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “buffalo” in a sentence?
Here is “buffalo” used in a sentence: “Don't let the salesman buffalo you into buying the extended warranty.”
What part of speech is “buffalo”?
“Buffalo” is a verb.
Where does the word “buffalo” come from?
The word “buffalo” comes from Ancient Greek. Borrowed via Portuguese or Spanish "búfalo," ultimately from Ancient Greek "boubalos," referring to an antelope or wild ox.
Is “buffalo” a common word?
“Buffalo” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “buffalo” have?
“Buffalo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to intimidate, confuse, or trick someone, often to pressure them into doing something.
What is the difference between buffalo (the verb) and bully?
Both involve pressuring someone, but "bully" stresses repeated force or cruelty, while "buffalo" leans more on confusing or deceiving a person to push them into a decision. Buffaloing someone often relies on bluff rather than open aggression.
Why can the word buffalo be repeated many times in a grammatical sentence?
The famous sentence "Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo" works because "buffalo" can be a place (Buffalo), an animal, and this verb meaning to intimidate. English lets nouns and verbs share the same form, so stacking these three meanings produces a sentence that is odd but grammatically valid.
What is the difference between buffalo the animal and buffalo the verb?
The noun refers to the large animal, while the verb means either to intimidate and trick someone or to hunt buffalo. Context makes the meaning clear, since the verb takes an object, as in "they buffaloed him into signing."