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

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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
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 But in addition to being just plain dumb, that conclusion also seems like a cop-out. Jen Chaney, Vulture, 3 May 2024
Verb
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 Plus, fashion needs to be breathable in the summer months, and what’s an easy cop out for stuffy styles? Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 22 June 2023 But to critics, that has seemed like a cop out, and rejection of the more forceful position of oil majors such as ExxonMobil and BP that have endorsed a carbon price. Josh Siegel, Washington Examiner, 14 Jan. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cop-out
Noun
  • The overall spa’s aesthetic was inspired by Caroline Astor and the Gilded Age, resulting an opulent yet timeless escape.
    Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
  • There are action sequences, including a harrowing escape of agents stationed in Ukraine, and Martian’s fight skills are eventually put to good use.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • While all these risks are adding up, the insurance industry hasn’t been able to deliver new solutions to provide adequate coverage, instead backing out of certain areas.
    Jennifer Castenson, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
  • The defense has to go right back out there against a really good offensive attack.
    Joseph Person, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Three properties affiliated with Jamey Noel, the former Clark County sheriff currently facing a 15-year sentence for crimes like theft, tax evasion and official misconduct, have been listed for sale.
    Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Smirnov pleaded guilty Monday to lying to a federal agent about a fake bribery scheme involving the Bidens, along with tax evasion.
    Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • After a brief media firestorm, officials backed down slightly, saying yesterday Carlsen would return to the event and the dress code rules would be less stringent.
    Chris Branch, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Advertisement With Proposition 36 now in effect, several other California officials have vowed to use the power of new legislation to hold people accountable, and criminal justice reform advocates show no signs of backing down.
    Koko Nakajima, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • In general, the reciprocal trust doctrine is a rule that attempts to prevent certain tax avoidance through the structuring of trusts that are interrelated and ultimately place the trust’s beneficiaries in similar economic positions.
    Darren T. Case, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Complete avoidance, while providing temporary reprieve from conflict, might inadvertently cement a rift with your family and make future reconciliation more difficult.
    Lori Gottlieb, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • At Arizona State's Peach Bowl media day on Monday, Leavitt didn't back off from those comments.
    Danny Davis, Austin American-Statesman, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Obama ultimately backed off on his threats to bomb Syria and cut a deal with Russia to destroy the Assad regime's chemical weapons stockpiles.
    Barak Ravid, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • One intelligence officer tasked with authorizing a strike recalled dedicating roughly 20 seconds to personally confirming a target, which could amount to verifying that the individual in question was male.
    Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Additionally in November, Volkswagen recalled over 114,000 vehicles across the U.S. due to concerns over the risk of an airbag exploding.
    Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024

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 6 Jan. 2025.

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