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
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Recent Examples of pass off
Adam Gordon, the book’s protagonist, is always passing off someone else’s language as his own.
—
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Wembanyama rewarded Bryant on the ensuing play with an alley-oop pass off a pick-and-roll that the Spurs rookie turned into a layup three minutes into the second quarter.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
But the overall reality is simple, lying in the hands of the head man still pulling the strings despite passing off the play-calling reins.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
To diVittorio, the minimum lot sizes are too big — and therefore expensive; setbacks from streets are too broad, eating up buildable land; and sidewalk requirements are too costly, getting passed off to consumers.
—Mark Dee
march 12, Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pass off
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Wembanyama rewarded Bryant on the ensuing play with an alley-oop pass off a pick-and-roll that the Spurs rookie turned into a layup three minutes into the second quarter.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
But the overall reality is simple, lying in the hands of the head man still pulling the strings despite passing off the play-calling reins.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
To diVittorio, the minimum lot sizes are too big — and therefore expensive; setbacks from streets are too broad, eating up buildable land; and sidewalk requirements are too costly, getting passed off to consumers.
—Mark Dee
march 12, Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pass off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pass off
Verb
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According to sources, Charles wishes to leave her the Keppel Tiara, a diamond-and-ruby piece valued at around $44,000, which originally belonged to Alice Keppel, Camilla’s great-great-grandmother.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
2 June 2026
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Stop, stop, don’t all rush in to wish me a happy birthday!—
Allison DeAngelis,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Furthermore, recent high-profile attacks are evidence that bad actors continue to target large, multinational suppliers whose outages inflict maximum financial damage across their extensive customer base.—
Jim DeLoach,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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Aircraft loss, bases struck, and very uncertain reports on the amount of damage to military targets that the military has actually been able to inflict.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Millions of people without proper documentation came in, imposing severe hardships on border communities, straining city budgets, and overwhelming public services.—
Andrew Tisch,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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The California Environmental Quality Act requires agencies to complete a report on the additional carbon dioxide emitted from more drivers on the road before imposing the return-to-office order, the union said.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
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While other firms have trimmed entry-level hiring as AI takes over the admin tasks normally palmed off to younger workers, EY is actively investing in early-career talent.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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Whether out of pride, ideological zeal or an instinct to haggle for even the tiniest advantage, Iranian leaders will be tempted to stall — to drag out negotiations, fob off the U.S. with flashy promises and try to trip up their American counterparts in highly technical details.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
26 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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Anna Konkle: As a child, knowing where one begins and ends in relation to one’s parents (especially amidst loud, unpredictable hippies) is like palming through a bucket of rice for a single grain.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
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Sibley, trying to get between Popov and his friends, made contact with the teen, palms out and open handed, and Popov stabbed him in the heart, Jafari said.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pass off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pass%20off. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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