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
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
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
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
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
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 the union is not wrong to call this a cop-out, either.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
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
Verb
Strategic shakeup Usually buying and selling is a cop out, but with where the Red Sox are in their competitive cycle the approach might make some sense.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
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
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
-
From massages and facials to the sauna, jacuzzi and quiet rooms, anyone needing an escape and refuge from the craze of the holidays (or just daily life) will enjoy a Burke Williams spa day.—
Erica Olsen,
CBS News,
7 Dec. 2025
-
Officials alleged that Sterling Williams, a maintenance worker, assisted the inmates in the escape, shutting off water to a toilet and sink inside a cell that were later ripped out by the inmates, who then escaped through the hole in the wall.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Small investors are backing out of artificial intelligence stocks ahead of SpaceX’s market debut, according to VandaTrack.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
11 June 2026
-
The former is set up the same way, with Sam refusing to kiss Percy during a game of truth or dare, only for Charlie to swoop in — and ultimately back out in the show.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Yet the cost of violence, contraband, tax evasion and environmental crime can be measured in the tens of billions of dollars every year and serves as a major drag on Brazil’s economic growth and stability.—
Robert Muggah,
The Conversation,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Mizuhara pleaded guilty to charges of bank fraud and tax evasion in June 2024 and was sentenced to nearly five years in prison.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Meghan Baer is not the type of woman to back down from a challenge.—
Helen I. Bennett,
Hartford Courant,
13 June 2026
-
Lower it back down and repeat on the opposite side.—
RikkiLynn Shields Hannigan,
Health,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The company also developed collision-avoidance software that prevents the robot’s arms from interfering with each other during operation.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
Revonsuo proposed that dreaming itself is an ancient biological defense mechanism, shaped by natural selection to rehearse threat perception and avoidance during sleep.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
To conclude the mission, the lander would launch back off the moon and dock again with Orion, which would fly the crew back home to Earth.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
-
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers last week that the DOJ would be backing off of the fund, amid bipartisan opposition to the idea.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
CreateOn is recalling Crayola pip-Cubes because the magnets inside can come loose and pose a serious risk if swallowed.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Looking back on the experience, Costner recalls his costume being too big for him and his turban falling off.—
Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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