passing off

verb

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing off
  1. wishing
  2. inflicting
  3. imposing
Verb
  • For those wishing to hold onto summer just a bit longer, go brighter with shades of sunset orange, creamy nude, and metallic.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 29 July 2026
  • There isn’t a team in any sport on any level on the planet that isn’t wishing to improve.
    — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of wishing
Verb
  • Inscoe turned himself in a few hours later, and was charged with two counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill/inflicting serious injury, and felony larceny of a motor vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.
    — Mark Price July 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
  • Ukrainian drone defenses, minefields, and artillery effectively repelled the attack, inflicting heavy losses including seven tanks and over 150 casualties.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of inflicting
Verb
  • Decorated in shades of green, yellow and pink to mimic an English garden, there are gold details at every turn, an imposing marble fireplace and freshly cut roses in a vase on the mahogany dining table.
    — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 29 July 2026
  • This month New York Governor Kathy Hochul enacted the first statewide data center moratorium and Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed legislation imposing the first statewide energy consumption tax on data centers.
    — John Kostyack, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of imposing

Browse Nearby Words

passing muster
passing off
passing (on)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Passing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing%20off. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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