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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of passing off
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
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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The sheriff’s office statement said events like this can be avoided for those wishing to seek help and assistance regarding domestic violence.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
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Those wishing to become an election worker are encouraged to apply early, though the registrar’s office will accept applications on a rolling basis, Presley said.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Traffic through the strait has fallen by 90% since the start of the Iran war, sending global oil prices skyrocketing and inflicting alarming shortages on the Asian nations that get their oil from Persian Gulf countries via the strait.—
David McHugh,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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The regime has proved more resilient and more capable of inflicting sustained damage on the region than the president expected.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some governments are also imposing policies to hold stocks at home and reduce exports, Wirth said.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
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Some states have responded by imposing flat annual registration fees on electric vehicles.—
Louis Sigaud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing%20off. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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