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
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Retreating to one’s room in the middle of the day feels like a cop-out at many places, but here the indoor-outdoor flow transforms a late-afternoon nap into a pleasure without the guilt.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Claiming that the shooter was still gathering is a cop-out by the refs.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2026
In another day and age, the move might appear cheap — a cop-out that suggests cinematic universes and spin-offs and good old-fashioned comeuppance.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
But in the wake of that buildup, the film's shockingly anticlimactic ending also feels like somewhat of a cop-out.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Claiming victimhood was a cop-out; those who made accusations of assault were ridiculed.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Those who don’t will probably view it as a cop-out — which is understandable!
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Mine is probably a cop-out too.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Climb the 900-odd steps (or cop out in a car) for a walk through its eight baroque bastions and some breathtaking views.
—Helen Brown, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
To say these machines are too expense is a cop out.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
Rather than throwing those bad cops out of the union and asking for better training so cops will never have to ask what to do when a fellow cop appears to have broken the law, Hendry encourages them.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Herman views the administration’s statements about the complexity of the refund process—and the need for the CIT’s intervention—as a bit of a cop out.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
But merely saying that is a cop-out.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Retreating to one’s room in the middle of the day feels like a cop-out at many places, but here the indoor-outdoor flow transforms a late-afternoon nap into a pleasure without the guilt.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Claiming that the shooter was still gathering is a cop-out by the refs.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2026
In another day and age, the move might appear cheap — a cop-out that suggests cinematic universes and spin-offs and good old-fashioned comeuppance.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
But in the wake of that buildup, the film's shockingly anticlimactic ending also feels like somewhat of a cop-out.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Claiming victimhood was a cop-out; those who made accusations of assault were ridiculed.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Those who don’t will probably view it as a cop-out — which is understandable!
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Mine is probably a cop-out too.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
The case, which has only recently come to the attention of POST officials, highlights the limits of state oversight even after lawmakers passed significant police reform aimed at forcing dishonest cops out of the profession.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Climb the 900-odd steps (or cop out in a car) for a walk through its eight baroque bastions and some breathtaking views.
—Helen Brown, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
To say these machines are too expense is a cop out.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
Rather than throwing those bad cops out of the union and asking for better training so cops will never have to ask what to do when a fellow cop appears to have broken the law, Hendry encourages them.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Herman views the administration’s statements about the complexity of the refund process—and the need for the CIT’s intervention—as a bit of a cop out.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cop-out
Noun
-
The positive impacts of your escape from daily realities are doubled.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
-
That escape also reveals the profound depths of his narcissism.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
But by Wednesday night, two artists had already backed out of or turned down the opportunity.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
But work is being done behind the scenes to make Sacramento a viable candidate again — the city was awarded an MLS expansion in 2019 before the deal fell through in 2021 when investor Ron Burkle backed out of the agreement during the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Brazilian prosecutors on Thursday launched a mega-operation to dismantle fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, in the latest phase of an investigation targeting criminal gangs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
In 1960, in what would be the start of a seminal friendship, Jones was approached by King to be on his legal team in a tax evasion case brought by the state of Alabama.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Jamie Knight-Lebel is going to be a full-time Canada centre-back down the road.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
-
This singular event can be the catalyst needed to get oil moving back down and bond yields following, freeing Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to lower rates.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima,
CNBC,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
The chief prerequisite for Musk’s employment seemed to be a talent for tantrum avoidance.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
-
Risk avoidance is a sure-fire way to prevent opportunities, but recklessness is the best way to destroy it.—
Seth Lederman,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
But Standin’ on the Corner brought people back off the 40 into our downtown Route 66.—
Joe Yogerst,
CNN Money,
27 May 2026
-
At times, the piano players in his groups would simply back off during part of Rollins’ solos, loath to risk following the twisting pathways of his improvising.—
Don Heckman,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
In a 1977 interview with Rolling Stone, George Lucas recalled his then-Marcia Lucas’ work on editing the original Star Wars’ final battle sequence.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
In a corresponding move, the Royals recalled right-hander Eric Cerantola from Triple-A Omaha.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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