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
Galatasaray versus Fenerbahce last night had zero chance of passing off quietly.
—
Phil Hay, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
And her play on the other end of the court — swallowing up opponents on defense in the post and passing off mismatches to create kick-out 3-point opportunities — headlined the first win of the Sky season.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
That entire scene never happens if Eva can pass off her turn.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025
And on the high-school football team, the comedian remembers trying to pass off his pop-star obsessions as pure, red-blooded machismo.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pass off
Phil Hay, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
And her play on the other end of the court — swallowing up opponents on defense in the post and passing off mismatches to create kick-out 3-point opportunities — headlined the first win of the Sky season.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
That entire scene never happens if Eva can pass off her turn.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025
And on the high-school football team, the comedian remembers trying to pass off his pop-star obsessions as pure, red-blooded machismo.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pass off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pass off
Verb
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In the meantime, wishing everyone a happy Juneteenth, aka Emancipation Day.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
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Foreigners who wish to become Ukrainian citizens must pass a test on the country's language, history, and constitution.—
Isabel van Brugen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Verb
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Trump’s tough talk reflects increasing divisions within his base of support over the mass deportation push, which threatens to inflict significant damage on the U.S. economy, especially industries that rely on undocumented immigrants for a big share of their low-wage labor.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2025
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So far, Israel has inflicted significant but not total damage on Iran’s nuclear program.—
Ali Vaez,
Foreign Affairs,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Flight restrictions imposed after flare-ups between Iran and Israel last year were short-lived, Sobie said.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
21 June 2025
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In a certain way, those genres have imposed themselves a little too much.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2025
Verb
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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
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And there’s an art to delegating, without seemingly palming off work to your team.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2023
Verb
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Not only does Israel not have spare luxury jets lying around to fob off on the American president, but the country took nine years to retrofit and launch its own version of Air Force One, and the process was a national fiasco.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
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But despite previous transparency around the cost-cutting measures, employees inquiring about how the budget cuts have impacted their performance review will now be fobbed off.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
29 Aug. 2023
Verb
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One of the others mimed palming the girl’s rear while the third snapped a photo.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
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With his feet still inside the penalty area, but his right arm extended beyond its edge, Henderson took the ball almost off Haaland’s foot and palmed it away from his goal, towards the touchline.—
Matt Pyzdrowski,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pass off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pass%20off. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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