as in wishes
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
Relevance
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 passes off
If Clark does manage to get passes off, USC’s lockdown secondary has the chance to live up to the hype.
—
Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes off
Verb
-
If Japan wishes to continue its goal of expanding its anime endeavors in the overseas market from one trillion to six trillion yen ($38 billion) by 2033, Japanese companies will need to make a concerted effort in order to promote anime in the United States.—
Kalai Chik,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
In a story set in the Great Depression, the Filipino-American novelist wrote courageously of the struggles of the migrant worker who wishes to live with dignity in a world that chooses not to see him as fully human.—
Time,
Time,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states that still imposes an inheritance tax–a tax on transfers from a person who has died to the people who inherit, with rates based on the category of recipient.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
New legislation imposes compliance costs, whereas simple interpretive guidance provides clarity.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Instead of providing convenience, services and consumption, the regime only inflicts repression, intrusion and censorship.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
-
Boiling water acts as a contact herbicide that inflicts thermal shock on the weeds' plant cells.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Sibley, trying to get between Popov and his friends, made contact with the teen, palms out and open handed, and Popov stabbed him in the heart, Jafari said.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passes off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passes%20off. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
