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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cop-out
Noun
-
This escape, which borders Canada, spans over 218,000 acres with lakes, boreal forests, and trickling streams.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Increase that field too much, and the electrons escape.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Italy is underwhelmed at the prospect of being named to the World Cup if Iran backs out.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The energy put into a quantum system by measurement could be instantly pulled back out by the Hamiltonian and stored in a battery to power other processes, García-Pintos says.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The indictment charges Meade with one count of tax evasion and six counts of failure to file a tax return.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Over the last hundred-plus years, the properties have had a lot of lives, names, and myriad owners, including a pair of brothers who went to prison for tax evasion.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This mission, which launched on April 1 and splashed back down to Earth on April 10, sent a crew of four astronauts on a journey around the moon and back.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
He stayed enrolled at his high school in Texas, attending remotely—several years before that became the pandemic norm—and flying back down to the Lone Star State for a couple months after the hockey season ended to finish his classes in person.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For individuals navigating this personally, setting limits around triggering situations is self-care, not avoidance.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Sometimes avoidance is the easiest option.—
Rebecca Flint Marx,
SELF,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some of their goals from throw-ins, with oppositions backing off in anticipation and possibly fear of one of Pinnock’s long throws, have also come from quick restarts and delivering quality crosses into the box.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of backing off of their support for the proposal, its Republican supporters are digging in — a sign of how intractable the fight over immigration policy is, even among Trump-supporting Republicans.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During a January episode of Dinner’s On Me, the pair recalled the hysterical moment that the show’s casting director, Jeff Greenberg, walked directly into a glass wall near the show’s craft service area.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
But titles feel almost superfluous aboard Evrima, where everyone from the tender drivers to food and beverage leads will pause to actually get to know you, and recall your name and story (and even your drink order) throughout your stay to make the entire experience feel organic and warm.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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