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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cop-out
Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 July 2025
Bloy’s answer to Variety’s question is both understandable and a total cop-out.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 15 July 2025
And yet there’s hardly an ounce of violence on screen, which feels like both a cop-out and, in some ways, an accomplishment.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
This is a bit of a cop-out, but there’s not much drama in the room unless injury hits.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 7 July 2025
Ultimately, the labor export program shouldn’t be seen as a cop-out by the government but rather as a single element of a much larger jobs plan that ought to prioritize opportunities in the country.
—Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 20 June 2025
Such a cop-out is the underlying, depressing reality with all of these remakes: No change can be too daring, no update too significant.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
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
Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025
But with that brief wave of hope came new footage on Twitter every night of the NYPD acting like bad cops out of a Harvey Keitel flick: cops harassing peaceful crowds, cops kettling activists, cops literally driving a car into a crowd of protestors.
—Maris Kreizman, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
The relative lack of substance across the board can’t help feeling like a cop out for a show that’s been capable of a lot more.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 14 June 2025
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
Noun
Again, this isn’t a cop-out, but the familiarity doesn’t give either side an edge.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 July 2025
Bloy’s answer to Variety’s question is both understandable and a total cop-out.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 15 July 2025
And yet there’s hardly an ounce of violence on screen, which feels like both a cop-out and, in some ways, an accomplishment.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
This is a bit of a cop-out, but there’s not much drama in the room unless injury hits.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 7 July 2025
Ultimately, the labor export program shouldn’t be seen as a cop-out by the government but rather as a single element of a much larger jobs plan that ought to prioritize opportunities in the country.
—Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 20 June 2025
Such a cop-out is the underlying, depressing reality with all of these remakes: No change can be too daring, no update too significant.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
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
Verb
On Thursday, there were 652 officers on the force, with nearly 100 cops out on some kind of administrative or medical leave.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025
But with that brief wave of hope came new footage on Twitter every night of the NYPD acting like bad cops out of a Harvey Keitel flick: cops harassing peaceful crowds, cops kettling activists, cops literally driving a car into a crowd of protestors.
—Maris Kreizman, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
The relative lack of substance across the board can’t help feeling like a cop out for a show that’s been capable of a lot more.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 14 June 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cop-out
Noun
-
That blockbuster, which Alcaraz won after a Houdini escape, has been followed by two solid sequels.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Consider booking a room at Hotel Atwater or the cliffside Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel for a truly memorable escape.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By the time Sega backed out of the hardware race post-Dreamcast, Shinobi mostly limped on with a couple of 3D entries for PlayStation and Nintendo platforms before fading into obscurity.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The driver was trying to back out, but the tires were just spinning in the mud.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
What’s frustrating is that while Tom and Robbie’s dance of evasion and investigation gets more predictable, the series’ performances get richer, so Task teeter-totters on an imbalance of story and ensemble.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The attorney announced earlier this year that the department had expanded the incentives for whistleblowers who reported a slew of crimes, including customs fraud and tariff evasion.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
An opportunity to shove the New York Yankees back down in the standings with the clubs meeting for the regular season’s final time.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Despite mounting pressure, Corpus — the county’s first Latina sheriff — shows no signs of backing down.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Some of us may instead fall into avoidance.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Eufy notes that its obstacle avoidance is uniquely good enough to recognize and avoid tassels on rugs.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In both cases, Tibetans immediately backed off.—
Tenzin Dorjee,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Discomfort is a sign to back off.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Food and Drug Administration is recalling frozen shrimp sold at Walmart for possible radioactive chemical contamination.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The Food and Drug Administration is recalling frozen shrimp sold at Walmart, including stores in Ohio and Kentucky, for possible radioactive chemical contamination.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
The Enquirer,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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