To buffet is (1) to hit or beat repeatedly, or (2) to beat back. The participial adjective buffeted is often used figuratively to describe something that is embattled or facing many adverse forces. To buffer is (1) to lessen or absorb the shock of an impact, or (2) to act as an intermediary or a moderating force between two or more opposed things.
Examples
Stocks were buffered from deeper losses by decent weekly jobs data in the U.S. and results from retailers. [MarketWatch]
Large amounts of heavy wet snow are expected to fall on leaf-laden tree branches buffeted by high winds, causing them to topple onto power lines and trigger power outages. [Youngstown Vindicator]
In 2009, 21 percent of all children, or 15.5 million, lived in poverty. … And that’s including the buffering effect of food stamps. [NPR’s The Salt blog]
And the satirical buffeting he has received from the opposition in the streets and on the internet is not likely to awaken the flawless democrat in him. [Open Democracy]
Comments are closed.