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

Relevance

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
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 Terrible cop out of a call. Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cop-out
Noun
  • Prior to the escape, Hernandez was held at the Kern Valley State Prison.
    Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
  • The rest of the top 10 rankings went to island escapes, including American Samoa, a US territory that includes seven South Pacific islands and atolls near Fiji; the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwest Africa, Portugal's the Azores; and Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean.
    Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Daughtry, citing Trump’s endorsement, backed out and endorsed Knott.
    Mark Harris, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Joel, who ended a residency of his own at Madison Square Garden over the summer, will next perform on Long Island for New Year's Eve before heading back out on the road early next year.
    Sarah Michaud, People.com, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The Biden administration should take quick regulatory action to raise standards for mandatory corporate due diligence for dual-use technology sales in places such as China, ramp up Commerce Department investigations of export control evasion, and threaten significant fines for violations.
    Theodore Bunzel, Foreign Affairs, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Hunter's sentencing was due to take place on December 12 in Delaware for the gun conviction and December 16 in Los Angeles for the tax evasion charges.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • But, of course, since this Super is not really Superman or Supergirl and can’t really fly, gravity brings the person back down.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Broadway settled back down to some post-Thanksgiving normalcy last week, dropping about 9% to $42,021,721 from the holiday high of the previous week.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • But there is no evidence the mutation is linked to the consumption of raw milk or the avoidance of vaccines.
    Nate Trela, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Prior to the Russia-Ukraine War, the P5 nations issued a statement in January 2022, saying the avoidance of war between nuclear-armed states is their foremost responsibility.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • And, though houses have gotten much bigger over the long term, home builders have backed off a bit in recent years.
    Zachary Crockett, thehustle.co, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Lewis, the No. 35 overall prospect in the Class of 2025 in the 247Sports Composite, had been committed to USC for more than a year but backed off that pledge on Nov. 17.
    David Ubben, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 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 24 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!