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
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
Recommending an antidepressant felt like a cop-out.
—Connie Bennett, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Mine is probably a cop-out too.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
Others may see it as a cop-out to make up for a short discography.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
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
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
Noun
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
Recommending an antidepressant felt like a cop-out.
—Connie Bennett, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Mine is probably a cop-out too.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
Others may see it as a cop-out to make up for a short discography.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cop-out
Noun
-
Christie Brinkley is soaking up the sun on a tropical escape.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Whether you’re drawn to whitewater rafting, interested in the trails or looking for an escape from urban Charlotte, the Whitewater Center deserves a look.—
Bill Bootz,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pure linen cannot be stretched back out, but a linen blend can.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Diving deeper, a bunch of biomarkers that shift during pregnancy may also take longer than a fourth trimester to level back out.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And the Iranian elite with connections to the state, particularly those linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, profited from sanctions evasion.—
Narges Bajoghli,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Convicted of draft evasion, he was sentenced to five years in prison but remained free while appealing the case.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Digestion and water loss typically bring your weight back down.—
Brandi Jones,
Verywell Health,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Russia had been demanding vast tracts of Ukrainian territory in exchange for peace, and on the call Lavrov refused to back down.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Restrictions should be guided by bloodwork and kidney function, not by blanket food avoidance.—
Brittany Poulson,
Verywell Health,
12 Jan. 2026
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Research on psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder shows that avoidance and reassurance provide quick relief but deepen long-term suffering.—
Dr. Jesse Finkelstein,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Grubauer deflected Zibanejad's initial shot wide and off the end board, and Zibanejad followed it and sent the rebound from behind the goal line back off the goalie and in for his 18th.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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That sent bonds and the dollar tumbling and stocks an inch away from a bear market in April before recovering sharply through the end of 2025 after Trump backed off some of his harshest tariff threats.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Most of them go deep into the memory vault of childhood, recalling fishing trips and family gatherings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
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Responding officers found bloody items in a nearby dumpster and spoke with neighbors who recalled seeing Ali before the police arrived.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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