as in to wish
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 pass off
In the third period, Pettersson hit Boeser with a sweet east-west pass off the rush.
—
Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on Truth Social.
—Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024
Right after a touchback, Will Howard dumped a pass off to TreVeyon Henderson, who got some blocks up front and scampered 75 yards to the house, giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead into the locker room.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 11 Jan. 2025
But there’s a reason most defensemen don’t take the chance of sailing a backhand pass off the wall under duress.
—Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pass off 
Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on Truth Social.
—Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024
Right after a touchback, Will Howard dumped a pass off to TreVeyon Henderson, who got some blocks up front and scampered 75 yards to the house, giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead into the locker room.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 11 Jan. 2025
But there’s a reason most defensemen don’t take the chance of sailing a backhand pass off the wall under duress.
—Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pass off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pass off
Verb
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The other, the Ukrainian president said, wished to return home.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
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Brown's remaining living daughter, Phyllis Denise wished her mother a happy 71st birthday in a Facebook post in 2021.—
Greta Cross,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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New Orleans may not have soccer, but its bond with the NFL and major U.S. sports events runs deep, as emphasized following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, when almost 1,400 people died and severe economic damage was inflicted on the city.—
Adam Crafton,
The Athletic,
6 Feb. 2025
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There was nothing in the news release about renewable energy or the harms inflicted by climate change — such as the fires that tore through Los Angeles County last month, which scientists say were worsened by fossil fuels.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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As an example, federal law requires that employers make accommodations for employees and job applicants with disabilities, unless those accommodations would impose an undue hardship.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
9 Feb. 2025
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Eventually, the soldiers are accompanied by antagonistic settlers looking to impose their will through violence.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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And there’s an art to delegating, without seemingly palming off work to your team.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2023
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Giannoli’s narrator lays out press performance in Balzacian details that sound absolutely contemporary: News, debate, and ideas had become goods to palm off on subscribers.—
Armond White,
National Review,
10 June 2022
Verb
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But despite previous transparency around the cost-cutting measures, employees inquiring about how the budget cuts have impacted their performance review will now be fobbed off.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
29 Aug. 2023
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Most chose instead to fob off the hard decisions to central bankers.—
William Pesek,
Forbes,
10 Sep. 2021
Verb
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Wonder what palms Sam Altman greased for Trevor Noah to suggest AI can make a new Rihanna album happen.—
August Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2025
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Pick something that looks tasty and slightly intimidating and clumsily palm some chopsticks.—
Bradley Hohulin,
The Indianapolis Star,
27 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near pass off
Cite this Entry
“Pass off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pass%20off. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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