passed off

past tense of pass off
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

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 passed off Coolly, Violet responds that to avoid alarming the public, a few agitators have beenneutralized—now there’s a sticky euphemism—and their deaths passed off as revenge killings among drug traffickers. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026 Small Reebok vector logos are found stamped on the tongue and heel and the emblem is also seen on the outsole but from a glance, the look could easily be passed off as an even pricier designer sneaker. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026 Union members and their supporters were dressed colorfully, clad in red or green, and their march through the Brussels city center passed off peacefully. — Mark Carlson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 Manipulated images of Meloni have repeatedly circulated online in recent years and have at times been passed off as authentic. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 Both parents died before Mears was three, and he was passed off among relatives who didn’t want to care for him. — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 The economic costs were diffuse and passed off to future generations as additions to the national debt. — Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026 Carson had been off the air for about a year at the time, having passed off hosting the late-night program to Jay Leno upon his retirement. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026 Su-hun passed off the manuscript of Min-hui’s late sister as his latest novel. — Kayti Burt, Time, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passed off
Verb
  • Advertisement One production focuses on the suffering Israel inflicted, the other on the suffering Israelis endured.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent weeks have inflicted severe losses on the kingdom, with missiles hitting energy infrastructure and civilian airports, killing at least 20 people.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • But Missouri ultimately imposed its will on the lowly Razorbacks.
    — PJ Green November 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed upon, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The artist Rashid Johnson, who’d also made works for the restaurant, showed up and wished Humm a happy (belated) birthday.
    — Emma Allen, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Kremlin said Putin wished Leo good health and a quick recovery.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • France took the lead with a solo try from Ntamack, who ran down the short side from about 22-meters out, dummied, palmed off a defender and crashed over in a tackle in the 52nd, and conversion from skipper Maxime Lucu.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
  • 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
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

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Cite this Entry

“Passed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passed%20off. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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