as in escape
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable
I think that saying you're sick is just a cop-out to get out of going to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to back out
to break a promise or agreement
don't cop out on your promise to pay for the damage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cop-out
Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 6 June 2025
Of course, there will always be times when a company catches you by surprise and lists your name along with other underperforming employees in a cop-out to cover their atrocious layoffs.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
That may sound like a cop-out, but the word has a deeper resonance on a show about women over 50.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025
As a result, a conclusion that seems like it’s supposed to be shocking lands as a glib, abrupt cop-out.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
As a result, a conclusion that seems like it’s supposed to be shocking lands as a glib, abrupt cop-out.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
This may seem like a cop-out and a way of avoiding getting caught up in the current attack on the trans community, but Coon doesn’t believe the choice has anything to do with White’s willingness to engage in important dialogues.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 30 Mar. 2025
Onya thinks the other girls, except Suzie, gave cop-out answers, and those girls are defensive.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
To think there’s no such thing as a perfect leader or workplace to strive for is unnerving—and feels like a cop-out.
—Kent Ingle, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Melody Chiu, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
The judges avoid giving critiques to the girls this week but do talk among one another, which is kind of weird but also means that nobody gets to cop out of Rate-a-Queen and just imitate the judges.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
Sometimes that feels like a bit of a cop out.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Sep. 2024
About 20 minutes later, the two cops out in front were joined by a third officer.
—Melody Chiu, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
The judges avoid giving critiques to the girls this week but do talk among one another, which is kind of weird but also means that nobody gets to cop out of Rate-a-Queen and just imitate the judges.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader, also condemned Israel’s move dubbing it a cop out.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2024
Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about?
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024
He was walked by cops out of the 105th Precinct in handcuffs Thursday morning and later arraigned in Queens Criminal Supreme Court on murder charges.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 30 May 2024
Noun
Many would have to raise their taxes as most do not allow for deficit spending (for the federal government, the optimal cop-out).
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 6 June 2025
Of course, there will always be times when a company catches you by surprise and lists your name along with other underperforming employees in a cop-out to cover their atrocious layoffs.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
That may sound like a cop-out, but the word has a deeper resonance on a show about women over 50.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025
As a result, a conclusion that seems like it’s supposed to be shocking lands as a glib, abrupt cop-out.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
As a result, a conclusion that seems like it’s supposed to be shocking lands as a glib, abrupt cop-out.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
This may seem like a cop-out and a way of avoiding getting caught up in the current attack on the trans community, but Coon doesn’t believe the choice has anything to do with White’s willingness to engage in important dialogues.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 30 Mar. 2025
Onya thinks the other girls, except Suzie, gave cop-out answers, and those girls are defensive.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
To think there’s no such thing as a perfect leader or workplace to strive for is unnerving—and feels like a cop-out.
—Kent Ingle, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
About 20 minutes later, the two cops out in front were joined by a third officer.
—Melody Chiu, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
The judges avoid giving critiques to the girls this week but do talk among one another, which is kind of weird but also means that nobody gets to cop out of Rate-a-Queen and just imitate the judges.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
Sometimes that feels like a bit of a cop out.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Sep. 2024
About 20 minutes later, the two cops out in front were joined by a third officer.
—Melody Chiu, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
The judges avoid giving critiques to the girls this week but do talk among one another, which is kind of weird but also means that nobody gets to cop out of Rate-a-Queen and just imitate the judges.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader, also condemned Israel’s move dubbing it a cop out.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2024
Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about?
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024
He was walked by cops out of the 105th Precinct in handcuffs Thursday morning and later arraigned in Queens Criminal Supreme Court on murder charges.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 30 May 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cop-out
Noun
-
Authorities said the woman knew of Massey's escape plans in advance, communicated with him after his escape, and misled authorities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 June 2025
-
From there, the group flooded inside the jail cell, then separated the toilet from the wall and made their escape through the resulting hole.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
Esther has a steep driveway that continuously triggers Subaru’s Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) system when backing out of her driveway.—
Michael Harley,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
The voracious pachyderm finally backed out of the store, a bag of snacks still clasped in his trunk.—
Chelsea Chan,
NBC news,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
They were found guilty in June 2022 of not only bank fraud and tax evasion, but also conspiring to defraud the IRS.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2025
-
This distinction often leads to taxpayers’ confusion when assessing the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion.—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
-
Deutsche Bank's Binky Chadha is bullish again, confident that the Trump administration will continue to back down on tariffs.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
-
Kumar’s departure comes as Denver faces a budget crisis that prompted city leadership to back down from an effort to give raises to Johnston’s appointees.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
Setup ease is on the menu too, thanks to autofocus and auto keystone correction, as well as resize for obstacle avoidance.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
5 June 2025
-
And the company’s thoughtful approach to Gen Alpha consumers — focusing on education and age-appropriate products rather than avoidance — is a measured response to this demographic reality.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
The visit on Thursday is critical for Merz to try on behalf of the 27-member bloc to convince Trump to back off the 50 percent tariffs.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
5 June 2025
-
South Florida’s rainy season started off to an unusually wet start, but the downpours are expected to back off for the rest of the week.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
Nolan recalled a University of Wisconsin assistant attending a Great Valley game.—
Tim Casey,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
-
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that salmonella causes about 420 deaths annually in the U.S. A photo of the affected product in the Williams Farms Repack LLC recall.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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