as in pretending
to present a false appearance of
in public they pass for being a loving couple, but in reality they are only friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing (for)
Verb
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Instead of pretending to be doctors attempting to remove body parts from a patient, however, Unethical Hoops players act as members of an opposing basketball team trying to take the ball from a cartoon character who very much resembles Gilgeous-Alexander.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026 -
Some owners show their mettle for a spell, then find adequate reason to knuckle under; others have no intention of even pretending to do what is hard or what is right.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Three days after that, Skubal fired 35 pitches in another bullpen session, simulating what would normally be a start day.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
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These models are getting better at simulating reality.—
Nilay Patel,
The Verge,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Massamba Diop has one of the highest ceilings of any transfer, and Braden Huff returns with the best hook shot in college hoops (assuming JT Toppin doesn’t play this season).—
CJ Moore
June 2,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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How data has helped root out discrimination The more imminent change, assuming the EEOC's proposals go forward, is the demise of the agency's annual collection of employee demographics.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The Yellow Jackets hit seven home runs, putting on a show for its first home regional game since 2019.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
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Nearly 40 years after first putting on the uniform, she was named CEO in 2024.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Passing (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing%20%28for%29. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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