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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of pass off
Somehow, Moss still managed to sling a pass off his back foot before all three came crashing down on him.
—
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
The film’s last half-hour collapses into an unfunny, extended appearance by that aforementioned legacy artist — the kind of star cameo that The Simpsons often succumbs to these days, passing off a famous person playing themselves as the height of comedy.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Shopping secondhand isn’t the same as re-gifting (like passing off last week’s ugly sweater to someone else).
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2024
Graham Mertz completed 7 of 10 passes off play-action for two touchdowns after throwing off play-action just nine times through the first five games.
—Jesse Temple, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pass off 
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
The film’s last half-hour collapses into an unfunny, extended appearance by that aforementioned legacy artist — the kind of star cameo that The Simpsons often succumbs to these days, passing off a famous person playing themselves as the height of comedy.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Shopping secondhand isn’t the same as re-gifting (like passing off last week’s ugly sweater to someone else).
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2024
Graham Mertz completed 7 of 10 passes off play-action for two touchdowns after throwing off play-action just nine times through the first five games.
—Jesse Temple, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pass off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pass off
Verb
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One wishes that the director had used this thread to comment more forcefully or even satirically on this striking relationship between the military and Hollywood.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
26 Jan. 2025
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In 2024, Bud Light used the Super Bowl to introduce the Bud Light Genie, an affable creature who granted a group of friends many wishes during an epic night out.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But the fact that Trump is dead wrong will not prevent him from inflicting serious harm right now on American families like my own.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
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The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders.—
Nicole Acosta,
People.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The move represents a seismic shift for Silicon Valley, which previously leaned left and had been critical of Trump, even imposing a temporary ban on Trump's social media profiles in 2020.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
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The government is also confident India will not experience any shortage or price spikes in oil after the U.S. imposed new sanctions on Russian oil, of which India is one of the top buyers.—
Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 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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Pick something that looks tasty and slightly intimidating and clumsily palm some chopsticks.—
Bradley Hohulin,
The Indianapolis Star,
27 Sep. 2024
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Even his tattoos are a conspicuous map of his touchstones: a portrait of Stevie Wonder, a hand palming a basketball printed with THE WORLD IS YOURS, an illustration related to the 1976 blaxploitation film The Human Tornado.—
Connor Garel,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 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 29 Jan. 2025.
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