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
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
Their talk is confidential, even from us, which is a bit of a cop-out.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 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
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
Their talk is confidential, even from us, which is a bit of a cop-out.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 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
-
Maybe after a decade and a half of ruling the charts, the only thing that offers Aubrey Graham an escape from anhedonia is the fleeting euphoria of a lottery hit.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
16 Apr. 2025
-
At least two made it to the Missouri River – the first captured in Boonville, Missouri, and the largest, a 3-footer, pulled from the river near Jefferson City by a fisherman, nearly three months after its escape.—
Jeremy Drouin,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
After initially making a deal with Davis — agreeing to get Cap to sell in exchange for getting him out of prison — Yancy officially backs out of the deal, losing out on $22 million in order to retain the ranch and his relationship with Ellie.—
Francesca Gariano,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Another recruiter tests job seekers on responsibility, asking them to go back out the front door and come in the back through the kitchen.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The federal agency on the frontlines of President Donald Trump’s tariffs war faces the enormous task of policing imports for tax evasion and applying the new tariff rates without holding up international trade.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Former Madrid player Xabi Alonso is one of the few soccer figures to be acquitted of tax evasion charges.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Neither side seems ready to back down, and Trump's TikTok deal—which must be approved by the Chinese government—risks further delays the longer negotiations and retaliations drag on.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Despite past condemnation and public concern, CHI has not backed down from its current legal position.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
His avoidance of assassination by quick reflexes to dodge a bullet's direct hit, and then rising up to display his resilience, provided a perfect tableau to emphasize his survival skills.—
Barbara A. Perry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, allergists recommend avoidance, exercise, or relying on over-the-counter medications to fight sneezing, itching, and watery eyes.—
Sarah Cottone,
Health,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The new restrictions follow an NPR report that Trump had backed off from pursuing the H20 controls, in exchange for Nvidia investing in data centers.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Even if investors are slightly more confident this week, after Trump backed off most of his harshest tariff rates, the changes in people’s life-style habits serve as their own kind of affective barometer.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Andor star Diego Luna recently recalled that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) director Gareth Edwards originally pitched him on the film by comparing his vision to Cuarón’s Y tu mamá también (2001), which starred a young Luna.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Similarly, Kim Kiyosaki, an entrepreneur and the co-founder of the Rich Dad Company, recalled being fired from her first job at an ad agency.—
Jaime Catmull, Contributor,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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