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
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
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
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
-
Few warm-weather escapes are complete without plenty of pool time–and the resort’s Baia delle Palme pool, an expansive aquatic zone, raises the bar for splish-splashy fun in the sun.—
Alexandra Kirkman,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
What begins as a brief detour spirals into a surreal escape where time, desire, and reality begin to unravel.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Some of the Russian crude oil sent to India is then refined and exported back out to other countries – because sanctions on Moscow don’t include products refined outside Russia.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
-
The Yankees got their 2024 AL Rookie of the Year back out on the mound for the first time this season on Sunday afternoon against the Miami Marlins.—
James O'Connell,
New York Daily News,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In her method of evasion, Bailey soon began to develop an ardor for book collecting.—
Olivia Cyrus,
Sacbee.com,
10 Aug. 2025
-
Criminal Charges And Plea McPhee pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of tax evasion, and one count of wire fraud.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Toronto Film Festival has backed down from a decision to pull the invite for director Barry Avrich’s Israel October 7 documentary The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue over security and footage clearance concerns.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The president, for his part, isn’t backing down despite flagging consumer sentiment and consternation from economists.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
With features like room mapping, obstacle avoidance, and self-emptying bins, today’s models make maintaining clean floors easier than ever.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
This leads to unconscious money behaviors such as overspending, overworking, avoidance, guilt, under-earning, debt accumulation and operating without a sound financial plan with systems of accountability.—
Joyce Marter,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Verb
-
For months, Trump has threatened to fire and replace Powell, only to repeatedly back off from his threat.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Perhaps the move by California — and potentially similar Democratic efforts in Illinois, New York and other states — will convince Texas Republicans to back off, as unlikely as that seems at the moment.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The actor recalled an argument between the two that escalated.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
While recently appearing on SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live, the 39-year-old That’s So Raven star recalled her ex-boyfriend not only getting another woman pregnant during their relationship, but audaciously asking her to be the baby’s Godmother.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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