as in backs out
to break a promise or agreement
don't cop out on your promise to pay for the damage
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cops out
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
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
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cops out
Verb
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Alternatives are dwindling, and playing centre-backs out of position does not interest me.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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So there are a lot of necklines and backs out.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The heat backs down for a more enjoyable warmth Friday into Saturday.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Unless the league backs down at the last minute — which would also not be unprecedented — the Senators could forfeit a pick in the mid-teens.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In most cases, the animal figures out something isn’t right and backs off.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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McCoy dunked hard at the rim off the dribble, from a lob and even got a couple put-backs off his own misses.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cops out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cops%20out. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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