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 The storm was around 155 miles southwest of Zihuatanejo, on Mexico's Pacific coastline, on June 30 and is expected to pass off the Baja California Peninsula this week. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 1 July 2025 Taking the ball out under the Celtics’ hoop, Hannum launched a 94-foot pass off the backboard into the hands of Bob Pettit, who had 39 points and 19 rebounds. The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 22 June 2025 Kamilla Cardoso bobbled an entry pass off her chest and into the hands of Stefanie Dolson. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025 May’s inflation report will offer the most definitive look at whether higher imports were passed off to customers, and the Consumer Price Index forecast is indicating just that. Kaylah Jackson, NBC news, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for pass off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pass off
Verb
  • The topic of banning phones at gigs has been a contentious one over the years, with artists wishing for fans to live in the moment, and fans desiring a chance to memorialize their concert experiences.
    Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Earlier this year, the Baby Daddy alum wished Marques a happy Valentine's Day.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Yet, despite inflicting relentless pain, their fury remains unquenched.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
  • The difference is that this time, the suffering is being inflicted by a state that should know too well the horrors of systemic dehumanization.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The decision was obvious to American sports lawyers, given that American courts reached the same conclusion as to similar restraints imposed by its sports leagues decades ago.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • In addition to pharma tariffs, Trump has threatened to impose across-the-board tariffs on semiconductors and lumber.
    Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 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
  • 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
  • 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
Verb
  • Russo had an opportunity to open the scoring after less than three minutes when she was played in by Bronze, but her shot from a tight angle was palmed away by Cata Coll and cleared by Ona Batlle.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 27 July 2025
  • 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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Cite this Entry

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

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