pass off

as in to wish
to offer (something fake, useless, or inferior) as genuine, useful, or valuable the con man tried to pass off a piece of blue glass as a sapphire

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pass off Throughout the case, Carnival’ attorneys maintained the cruise line wasn’t at fault and passed off blame to Rondon. Vinod Sreeharsha september 22, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025 Lots of men would have passed off that rod because the fish fought so hard. Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025 While mass luxury may pass off plastic handbags or interior car seats as leather, such compromises cheapen the value perception in the eyes of those who know better. Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025 If Clark does manage to get passes off, USC’s lockdown secondary has the chance to live up to the hype. Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pass off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pass off
Verb
  • O'Connor wished Manganiello a happy birthday in December.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
  • In the comment section, many people wished Mia a happy birthday.
    Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Portlanders understand the tragic reality that’s been inflicted on us, which is why resistance here often looks more like performance art than warfare.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Joe Podraza, a lawyer for Greenberg's parents, has said that this wound was inflicted after Greenberg's heart stopped beating.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Comey received a slight boost in his case to plead his innocence earlier this week when a judge rejected federal prosecutors’ effort to impose broad restrictions on the evidence Comey can access ahead of trial.
    Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The latest food shortage in Gaza began in March, when Israel ended a ceasefire and imposed a blockade on all aid that lasted eleven weeks.
    Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The unique shape helps keep your palm off the table while offering a spot for your thumb to rest.
    Brenda Stolyar, Wired News, 9 May 2025
  • And there’s an art to delegating, without seemingly palming off work to your team.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2023
Verb
  • Your potential clients are terrified of being sold the dream then fobbed off to a junior team member.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • While attempting to film his daughter's dance, Miguel Angel Michel, 66, couldn't control his feet and eventually fobbed off his phone altogether, earning 4.2 million views on TikTok.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • Slicing this way makes the lemons easier to palm.
    Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The result was the same — chaos in the six-yard box that restricted Altay Bayindir, who palmed the ball straight onto Calafiori’s forehead.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pass off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pass%20off. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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