passing off

present participle of pass off
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

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 passing off Up to now, those accused of passing off a computer’s writing as their own have tended to either apologize or deny it. Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026 In academia, there is no greater sin than passing off another’s work as one’s own. Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026 People are passing off workslop to their colleagues, accusing each other of lazy AI use, picking fights over who's smarter than AI and punting questions from their direct reports. Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 The offense works on the underneath passing tree while the defense simulates coverage rules and passing off cross-under routes. Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing off
Verb
  • Al Pacino was unable to attend the press conference earlier in the day but sent a video message from America wishing the cast and crew well for the premiere.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The industrial moral economy of Fordism became especially attractive in Italy, Germany, Russia and Japan—all countries wishing to escape the grip of British and American financiers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • As the most consistently excellent side in rugby union history, the All Blacks usually repaid any reaction by inflicting a defeat.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Strong has been charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, disorderly conduct, communicating threats and injury to personal property, police said.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Due to his military background and imposing stature, he was eventually hired as a celebrity bodyguard, protecting big names like Muhammad Ali, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Steve McQueen.
    Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Her Sandra is a study in contradictions — imposing and fragile, brilliant and naive, independent and isolated.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Passing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing%20off. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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