as in palming off
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 passing off
Adam Gordon, the book’s protagonist, is always passing off someone else’s language as his own.
—
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
But the overall reality is simple, lying in the hands of the head man still pulling the strings despite passing off the play-calling reins.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Ocean carriers are reacting in kind, passing off the war-risk premiums to their customers.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Mar. 2026
Gimbel attributed the practice of AI washing to companies passing off diminished margins and revenue from a failure to effectively navigate cautious consumers and geopolitical tensions to AI.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Williams and Storrie, both in official white, pink and yellow fits, had their own moment as torchbearers, with Williams passing off the flame to Storrie.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
In the video, Prince Louis, the youngest son of Prince William and Princess Kate, can be seen holding the toy, before passing off the beaver masquerading as Santa Claus to his father.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Dec. 2025
One tactic smugglers use is passing off African greys as species that can still be legally exported, such as green and red-fronted parrots.
—Rene Ebersole, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025
Eleanor ends up passing off the story of Bessie surviving a concentration camp in Poland as her own.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
But the overall reality is simple, lying in the hands of the head man still pulling the strings despite passing off the play-calling reins.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Ocean carriers are reacting in kind, passing off the war-risk premiums to their customers.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Mar. 2026
Gimbel attributed the practice of AI washing to companies passing off diminished margins and revenue from a failure to effectively navigate cautious consumers and geopolitical tensions to AI.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Williams and Storrie, both in official white, pink and yellow fits, had their own moment as torchbearers, with Williams passing off the flame to Storrie.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
In the video, Prince Louis, the youngest son of Prince William and Princess Kate, can be seen holding the toy, before passing off the beaver masquerading as Santa Claus to his father.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Dec. 2025
One tactic smugglers use is passing off African greys as species that can still be legally exported, such as green and red-fronted parrots.
—Rene Ebersole, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025
Eleanor ends up passing off the story of Bessie surviving a concentration camp in Poland as her own.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing off
Verb
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Equity cannot mean handing someone a license and wishing them luck in a billion-dollar industry.—
Sonya M. Harper,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
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So here’s wishing Charley the best now and always!—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Trump, who once demanded a Nobel Peace Prize, started a war of choice in Iran, inflicting damage that a deal can’t undo.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
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Ashley Nicole Taris, 24, a former KinderCare employee, is charged with felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury, according to a warrant reviewed by PEOPLE.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After the Brussels meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that without Orban’s veto, action could be coming soon, such as imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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Overlooking the São Lourenço estate is the hilltop town of Monserraz, a fortified settlement with an imposing castle and warren of streets to explore, as well as stunning views over the Guadiana river to the Spanish border.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing%20off. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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