Passes away is a common phrase used to indicate the death of an individual. However, there are several synonyms for this phrase that can be used interchangeably. Some of the common synonyms for passes away are expire, depart, cross over, cease to exist, perish, give up, breathe one's last, and depart this life. All these synonyms convey a sense of finality and indicate the end of a person's life. While each of these words has a slightly different connotation, they are all suitable alternatives to the phrase 'passes away' and can be used to indicate the passing of an individual.