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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cop-out
Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
That may sound like a cop-out, but the word has a deeper resonance on a show about women over 50.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025
As a result, a conclusion that seems like it’s supposed to be shocking lands as a glib, abrupt cop-out.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
As a result, a conclusion that seems like it’s supposed to be shocking lands as a glib, abrupt cop-out.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
This may seem like a cop-out and a way of avoiding getting caught up in the current attack on the trans community, but Coon doesn’t believe the choice has anything to do with White’s willingness to engage in important dialogues.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 30 Mar. 2025
Onya thinks the other girls, except Suzie, gave cop-out answers, and those girls are defensive.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
To think there’s no such thing as a perfect leader or workplace to strive for is unnerving—and feels like a cop-out.
—Kent Ingle, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
This may seem like a cop-out answer, but Newcastle are confident that, as things stand, Alexander Isak is going nowhere.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
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
Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader, also condemned Israel’s move dubbing it a cop out.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2024
Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about?
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024
He was walked by cops out of the 105th Precinct in handcuffs Thursday morning and later arraigned in Queens Criminal Supreme Court on murder charges.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 30 May 2024
Noun
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
That may sound like a cop-out, but the word has a deeper resonance on a show about women over 50.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025
As a result, a conclusion that seems like it’s supposed to be shocking lands as a glib, abrupt cop-out.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
As a result, a conclusion that seems like it’s supposed to be shocking lands as a glib, abrupt cop-out.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
This may seem like a cop-out and a way of avoiding getting caught up in the current attack on the trans community, but Coon doesn’t believe the choice has anything to do with White’s willingness to engage in important dialogues.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 30 Mar. 2025
Onya thinks the other girls, except Suzie, gave cop-out answers, and those girls are defensive.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
To think there’s no such thing as a perfect leader or workplace to strive for is unnerving—and feels like a cop-out.
—Kent Ingle, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
This may seem like a cop-out answer, but Newcastle are confident that, as things stand, Alexander Isak is going nowhere.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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
Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader, also condemned Israel’s move dubbing it a cop out.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2024
Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about?
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024
He was walked by cops out of the 105th Precinct in handcuffs Thursday morning and later arraigned in Queens Criminal Supreme Court on murder charges.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 30 May 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cop-out
Noun
-
Boyd, 19, who was facing charges of second-degree murder before the escape, was the latest inmate captured.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Nate Foy,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2025
-
What was an escape turned into nine piano compositions made available on various platforms, including Spotify, after feedback on Instagram.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
Trainers wrapped Kornet’s arm up, sent him back out there, and watched his energy catalyze the rest of his team.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
-
American Promise, Journalism and Sandman are the only three Derby horses lining up for this year’s Preakness, after Sovereignty backed out citing the tight turnaround.—
Sam Cohn,
Baltimore Sun,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
The same language figures in each, the same threats, means of evasion, forms of institutional hostility.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
21 May 2025
-
Especially not someone like Rose, whose transgressions went far beyond the playing field and included everything from a tax evasion conviction to an extramarital affair with a teenager.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2025
Verb
-
This is when everything used for the production is broken back down and prepared to be returned or stored.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
17 May 2025
-
Because when these Knicks play like this — urgent, connected, relentless — there’s no opponent too skilled or seasoned to bring them back down to earth.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
Passive resonance avoidance: Because the stiffness can be switched without changing the equilibrium state, countersnapping can be used to automatically change the natural vibration frequency of a system.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
15 May 2025
-
While a low-maintenance partner values independence and space without feeling disconnected, emotional avoidance can create a sense of detachment and distance, even during key moments.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
Trump quickly backed off the reciprocal plan amid a market rout and mounting criticism.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
8 May 2025
-
That direct encouragement accelerated an equity market rally which began as the president showed further inclination to back off of his most aggressive trade war plans and brandished a new trade deal with the U.K., the first such agreement of his second term.—
Derek Saul,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Verb
-
Zoltan also recalls how, just prior to the crash, Mansfield had been sitting in the backseat of the car with her three children.—
Carita Rizzo,
People.com,
17 May 2025
-
Cain ripped a single into left field, a ball that, as then-general manager Dayton Moore recalled, hugged the line.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share