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
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Recent Examples of passed off
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
Wilted lettuce doused in watery dressing passed off as salads.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
Wilted lettuce doused in watery dressing passed off as salads.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
Wilted lettuce doused in watery dressing passed off as salads.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
The film claims to be a comedy but does not even attempt to rise above judgmental statements passed off as jokes and slapstick comedy.
—Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
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
Wilted lettuce doused in watery dressing passed off as salads.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
Wilted lettuce doused in watery dressing passed off as salads.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
Wilted lettuce doused in watery dressing passed off as salads.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
The film claims to be a comedy but does not even attempt to rise above judgmental statements passed off as jokes and slapstick comedy.
—Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passed off
Verb
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The war has also inflicted significant damage on Hamas’ supplies of its heaviest weapons and its weapons manufacturing capabilities, as well as on its senior leadership.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
21 Oct. 2025
-
But the most important part of the story left unseen in the series is the gut-wrenching violence Gacy inflicted on his victims, both those who died and the few who survived.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Though the Maldives is the first country to enact such a ban, similar proposals have been debated – and nearly imposed – in other parts of the world.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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The Pentagon recently imposed the most stringent access restrictions of the term, requiring that all reporters covering the Defense Department in person sign a restrictive press policy prohibiting them from soliciting any information the department has not authorized for release.—
Scott Nover,
Arkansas Online,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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One coworker, dressed as Prince, wished to meet Mariah Carey, but only got a cardboard cutout.—
Lizzie Hyman,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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The mother of one went on to thank her friends, the Barbados tourism board, and everyone who wished her a happy birthday.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
27 Oct. 2025
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 8 Nov. 2025.
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