passes off

Definition of passes offnext
present tense third-person singular of pass off
as in wishes
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 passes off If Clark does manage to get passes off, USC’s lockdown secondary has the chance to live up to the hype. Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes off
Verb
  • In the finale’s last moments, Alfie confronts Mindy, notices the ring on her finger and wishes her luck.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026
  • If the former Olympian wishes to see her daughter and Sophia agrees to it, then Farina will make good faith efforts to set up the visit, per the documents.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Almost every state imposes sales tax, except for Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon, which instead allows cities to charge a local sales tax.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Jan. 2026
  • The levy increases rates on hotel room and vacation rental stays but also imposes a new 11% tax on the gross fares paid by a cruise ship's passenger, prorated for the number of days the vessels are in Hawaii ports.
    CBS News, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The virus inflicts acute gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach or intestines — on people of all ages in the United States, the CDC said.
    Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025
  • The costume designer adds that those subtle perforations become deeper cuts only when Will begins to doubt his own abilities as a father, and inflicts damage of his own.
    Elaina Patton, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Passes off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passes%20off. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.

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