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
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
-
Authorities said the woman knew of Massey's escape plans in advance, communicated with him after his escape, and misled authorities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 June 2025
-
From there, the group flooded inside the jail cell, then separated the toilet from the wall and made their escape through the resulting hole.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
With seven seconds left on the clock, Haliburton took the ball the full length of the floor, crossed-over Mikal Bridges, then met Mitchell Robinson in the paint before retreating back out to the top of the key and heaving a shot from downtown.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
22 May 2025
-
And that could mean reaching back out to free agent reliever David Robertson, after it was reported the Phillies already contacted him about a possible reunion.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
They were found guilty in June 2022 of not only bank fraud and tax evasion, but also conspiring to defraud the IRS.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2025
-
This distinction often leads to taxpayers’ confusion when assessing the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion.—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
-
Kumar’s departure comes as Denver faces a budget crisis that prompted city leadership to back down from an effort to give raises to Johnston’s appointees.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
3 June 2025
-
Deutsche Bank's Binky Chadha is bullish again, confident that the Trump administration will continue to back down on tariffs.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
The robot's dual 96-line lidar sensors and wide-angle cameras feed data into its onboard processors, enabling real-time mapping, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and autonomous navigation, even in low visibility or completely dark environments.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2025
-
This smacks of the classic PR strategy of avoidance, which always works in a market like Chicago for a team like the Bears.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
The visit on Thursday is critical for Merz to try on behalf of the 27-member bloc to convince Trump to back off the 50 percent tariffs.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
5 June 2025
-
Some Republicans are inclined to agree with a Wall Street Journal editorial arguing that the proposal can succeed — if other countries back off a global tax framework and avoid retaliatory taxes.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
Woodward recalled, leading to changes that were enacted the next day.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
-
Reports of wood inside Dinty Moore Beef Stew led to Hormel Foods recalling the product Wednesday.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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