as in inflicted
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 passed off
And even Lachlan, who shares his father’s paleo-conservative worldview and was therefore granted control of Fox News, ultimately had to accept that much of the Murdoch empire had been sold out from under him when Rupert passed off 20th Century Fox to Disney for $71 billion in 2019.
—
The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 Feb. 2026
After a campaign marred by clashes at opposition rallies, and what the United Nations said was widespread repression and intimidation, voting passed off peacefully on Thursday.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
The tie ultimately passed off without much incident.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
After Wembanyama converted an and-one fast-break lob from Stephon Castle, Mazzulla lifted Walsh and passed off that matchup to Baylor Scheierman.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
Winter can be hard, but the belief that everyone is sadder during the season may simply be folklore passed off as fact.
—Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 1 Jan. 2026
Perez said at a Sunday night press conference that authorities identified the man via a tip — which the police chief said was passed off to the FBI — but the evidence obtained was ultimately insufficient to keep him.
—Max Rego, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2025
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
The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 Feb. 2026
After a campaign marred by clashes at opposition rallies, and what the United Nations said was widespread repression and intimidation, voting passed off peacefully on Thursday.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
The tie ultimately passed off without much incident.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
After Wembanyama converted an and-one fast-break lob from Stephon Castle, Mazzulla lifted Walsh and passed off that matchup to Baylor Scheierman.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
Winter can be hard, but the belief that everyone is sadder during the season may simply be folklore passed off as fact.
—Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 1 Jan. 2026
Perez said at a Sunday night press conference that authorities identified the man via a tip — which the police chief said was passed off to the FBI — but the evidence obtained was ultimately insufficient to keep him.
—Max Rego, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passed off
Verb
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Hitler had inflicted countless economic wounds on his country over his five years as chancellor, and this foray into the Arctic was part of a broader effort to remedy one of them.—
Timothy W. Ryback,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Becket uses this time to take the guy through his entire life story (with some sizable, murder-free jumps notably missing), most of it hinging on that essential wound inflicted on him before he was born.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While their bodies still experience gravity, being unable to walk or, in some cases, even move their lower body reduces the amount of force imposed on their bones, especially the bones in the limbs and back.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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The 37-year prison sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman last week in federal court in Chicago.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There were speeches, including by Korea's ambassador to Italy, and a few interactive moments, like when the crowd got help trying out a hacky-sack-like game and wished our neighbors a happy New Year.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
19 Feb. 2026
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In an email sent to Whitfield, the TEA investigator responsible for the case thanked Whitfield for his cooperation and wished him the best.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
Cite this Entry
“Passed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passed%20off. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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