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
The indictment also accused him of intentionally submitting checks drawn on insufficient funds and allegedly passing off another person’s Internet Movie Database Page as his own to convince one victim of his industry bona fides.
—
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing off
Verb
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King Charles and Prince Harry have been taking steps towards reconciliation, but everyone understands that, after the issues the two have had, ending their feud isn’t just a matter of wishing it.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 Sep. 2025
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So happy for you both and wishing you all the happiness in the world!—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Their shared belief in the importance of cinema breaks through the screen, contagiously inflicting those watching, striking a hopeful tone to cherish and admire that also prevents the film from appearing earnest and naive.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
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For now, there’s much more acute pain Julia and Henry are inflicting upon us.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And, just in time, online sports betting companies for the first time are imposing per-bet fees on Illinoisans as the companies seek to pass along new taxes imposed by Democrats in Springfield.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Trump is trying to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a law historically used for imposing economic sanctions and other penalties on foreign enemies.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Passing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing%20off. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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