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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cop-out
Noun
-
Each Residence has abundant outdoor lounge spaces and a large swimming pool, and can be booked in its entirety for a group retreat or a multigenerational family escape.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Here, the local world flows straight into your own private escape, creating an unrivaled, unforgettable vacation experience.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
After the Cubs hit a pair of back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-1 lead, Counsell sent Palencia back out for the sixth to face Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Or might a loss at Carolina next Sunday immediately spring open that pen and let the wolves back out full-throated?—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
She was accused of misrepresenting her personal spending (including $24,380 at beauty salons and nearly $14,000 at Hermès) as business expenses, tallying about $3 million in tax evasion.—
Carrie Battan,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Hughbanks faces a tax evasion charge in relation to the police investigation findings.—
Leo Bertucci,
Louisville Courier Journal,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
During the heat of summer, those grass roots are just biding their time, waiting for the temperatures to go back down.—
Charlotte Germane,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Hungary's top diplomat told Newsweek that the only path to obtaining peace in Ukraine and ensuring Europe's security ran through a stable relationship between the United States and Russia, vowing Budapest would not back down in the face of pressure from EU and NATO allies on this front and others.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Taxing the value of the land instead of what sits on it encourages development, and land cannot be moved offshore for tax avoidance.—
Renaud Foucart,
Time,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Amazon avoidance is Literary Citizenship 101.—
Maris Kreizman
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Without their back pressure, defencemen need to back off and give the opposing rush space to avoid getting beat.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Yes, the members of season 27’s cast are almost all playing the game poorly, backing off from big moves out of fear or changing their minds at the last moment to vote out their own allies.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dean and Dan Caten recalled meeting Armani during many summer holidays throughout the Mediterranean and also praised his generosity toward them and young designers.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
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The young bride recalls having to sleep in a new house with a new family soon after the wedding, having always slept with her mother at home until then.—
Carlotta Dotto,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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