passes (for)

verb

present tense third-person singular of pass (for)
as in pretends
to present a false appearance of in public they pass for being a loving couple, but in reality they are only friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes (for)
  1. pretends
  2. simulates
  3. assumes
  4. affects
Verb
  • The show only pretends to be organized around romantic couples.
    — Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 27 June 2026
  • The sequence in which Carmy tries to talk Richie down from a panic attack feels equally dynamic and alive right to its conclusion — when Carmy pretends they’ve gotten locked in, just as Carmy once was, to mess with Richie’s head.
    — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of pretends
Verb
  • Swanson earned the national championship in the Postsecondary Collision Damage Appraisal Division, a competition that simulates the work of professional collision estimators and insurance appraisers, according to a press release from the college.
    — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
  • The mission simulates a scenario in which a maneuverable satellite rapidly approaches and inspects another spacecraft that is not cooperating.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 June 2026
Definition of simulates
Verb
  • Upon approval, the new lender pays off your existing loan and then assumes the remaining balance.
    — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 8 July 2026
  • One person, faced with a partner’s short reply, assumes fatigue or distraction.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of assumes
Verb
  • One of the most common – yet frequently misunderstood – causes of chronic pelvic pain is endometriosis, a condition that affects about one in 10 women of reproductive age.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • This issue mainly affects the crafts/below-the-line categories, like directing, editing and cinematography, which are evaluated by specific episodes ahead of nominations.
    — Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Definition of affects
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.

Browse Nearby Words

passes (down)
passes (for)
passes (into)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Passes (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passes%20%28for%29. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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