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
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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
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
Verb
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The interview concluded with Oteri's Walters wishing the pair well.
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Any pub wishing to stay open for these hours must have applied for a temporary event notice at least five working days in advance, meaning that those which had not submitted such an applicated by Friday, June 26, are now no longer able to apply.
Verb
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She was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and inflicting great bodily injury.
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Vanderhoef was additionally sentenced to five consecutive years for inflicting bodily injury and using a weapon during the commission of a crime.
Verb
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In its latest state budget that is expected to be voted on by the legislature this week, North Carolina is imposing a 6% tax on net trading fee revenue from prediction markets operating within the state, according to WRAL.
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Colombia wasted no time imposing itself on the Portugal defense, taking two shots in the opening minutes, the first a header by Cordoba after a Diaz shot was deflected, and another by Rodriguez that went wide.
Cite this Entry
“Passing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing%20off. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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