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
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing (for)
Verb
-
Clarity does not require pretending the fog is gone.
-
This has included perpetrators pretending to administer a survey in their car, posing as a social worker giving away free baby items at their home, accompanying victims to a doctor’s appointment at a nonexistent clinic, and luring them to fake baby showers.
Verb
-
This has become increasingly difficult, with professional players routinely simulating injuries and an offside rule that is interpreted to within fractions of an inch.
-
My research focused on simulating how special light waves interact in liquid crystals and using simple equations to approximate and understand those interactions.
Verb
-
People also tend to confuse fragrance intensity with cleanliness, assuming a strong smell means a deeper clean.
-
Investors will take riskier positions, assuming the central bank will save them from their own mistakes.
Verb
-
Dad was also careful not to pump his son too hard, while putting on his professional cap.
-
This weekend, Elizabeth Hall, a 15-year wedding planning veteran and the proprietor of Elizabeth Hall Events for nine years, is putting on a wedding at the Ocean House resort in Rhode Island.
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.
Cite this Entry
“Passing (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing%20%28for%29. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
