cop-out 1 of 2

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

cop out

2 of 2

verb

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cop-out
Noun
To some sequins and tones like black and gold could be viewed as easy cop-outs. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 9 Jan. 2025 The first would be seen as a cop-out by hawkish elements in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which saw one of its facilities hit and its missile production capacity depleted. Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2024 And that is not a cop-out answer, but the correct answer. Dane Brugler, The Athletic, 21 Aug. 2024 So many movies depict tech bringing out the worst in people, leaving us with the sort of cop-out villainy of computers are bad! Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2024 But to shift that responsibility back onto your consumers (by enticing them with a gift card) feels like a cop-out. Lindy Segal, Curbed, 18 Sep. 2024 Alcohol was frequently mentioned as a contributing factor to this mindset, suggesting that—in some cases—intoxication provided an easy cop-out for the affair. Mark Travers, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 It’s often dismissed as a trivial punishment for children, or as an easy cop-out for difficult conversations. Mark Travers, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024 Refusing to continue isn’t a cop-out so much as an affirmation of everything else precious that fills one’s days. Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2024
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 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 As for Butler, his answer was Timothée Chalamet, which is a cop out. Tom Smyth, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2024 The performances by Robert De Niro and Al Pacino as, respectively, a thief and the cop out to catch him bring such intensity and power to the film. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2024 Needless to say, my hot glue gun gets a lot of action, and after my last one copped out, my shopping research brought me to a life-changing discovery: cordless glue guns actually exist. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cop-out
Noun
  • Looking for escape through others, drinking, working nonstop.
    Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Chuck’s possible escape isn’t the only bomb Baron drops on the couple.
    Emily Blackwood, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The city is being urged to back out of the current project and adopt the conservancy’s design concept.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Related Articles Buyer backs out of major Oakland property sale, delaying crucial budget salve The county supervisors unanimously established a 30-day timeline for new terms to be met over the sale of the 112-acre Coliseum Complex, which includes the stadium, arena and surrounding parking lots.
    Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • This comes after Biden issued a controversial pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, in early December over tax evasion and federal gun charges.
    Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2025
  • The couple were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion earlier that year, after first being indicted in 2019.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Brown raised his hand, and then quickly brought it back down.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Lisa proceeded to shout, but Bronwyn was not backing down.
    Liza Esquibias, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Symptoms of this condition can include vivid memories of the fires, nightmares, hypervigilance or avoidance of anything that reminds someone of the event, Alpert said.
    Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 11 Jan. 2025
  • His controversial tenure as the Dodgers’ owner, which included allegations of financial mismanagement and tax avoidance, ended with the team filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2011.
    Phoebe Liu, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In an interview with Fox News, the president again seemed to back off his earlier warnings that huge tariffs against China were coming.
    Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The defender, who joined for £40m from Wolverhampton Wanderers, backed off Mateta before the opener.
    Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • One of Jordan’s sisters, Hajime White, recalled listening helplessly to one of her father’s final phone calls from Arkansas in an interview with PEOPLE.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Brown’s daughter recalled her father telling her about a petition that circulated among several white players in the Dodgers clubhouse protesting the addition of Robinson, who was Black.
    Beth Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near cop-out

Cite this Entry

“Cop-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cop-out. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

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