COPS Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

cops 1 of 2

noun

plural of cop

as in policemen

a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level a cop stopped her for speeding

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

civilians

cops

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cop, slang

as in buys

to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for I copped a great outfit for only $50

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grabs

to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly some concertgoers rushed pell-mell through the doors so that they could cop the seats down front

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 cops

Noun

Since the nineteen-nineties, a Korean New Wave had been praised for embedding capitalist critique in movies packed with monsters, slithering octopuses, killers, and killer cops. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Attorneys who represent officers that have sued the department over whistleblower retaliation dismiss the claim by Chief Jim McDonnell and others that some cops are exaggerating their claims in pursuit of a big payday. — Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 He also was briefly shut down after cops discovered a trafficked 13-year-old girl performing nude for customers in 2013. — David Goodhue october 9, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 When Carrasco was walked out of the NYPD stationhouse in handcuffs by cops Thursday afternoon to appear in Bronx Criminal Court, supporters of the victim were waiting. — Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 The most justifiable criticism against the DC detective series is that its mysteries play out wordily, without letting the audience in on how its space cops come to major conclusions. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026 In 2018, she was charged with driving under the influence where cops allegedly found drug paraphernalia. — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026 States, or city and town councils, should mandate regular audits of database access and impose strict criminal penalties for cops who misuse the technology. — Rafael A. Mangual, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cops

Noun

When plans were made for a visit to Japan by President Eisenhower in 1960—it was eventually called off—there weren’t enough policemen to guard his route into Tokyo, so the yakuza were mobilized to help.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
On the other side of Via Solari, a handful of policemen gathered around dozens of demonstrators, who ardently—but peacefully—chanted for entirely different reasons.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of policemen

Verb

That follows two $500,000 ad buys from the business group, which has historically aligned with Republicans, praising incumbent Sens.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Simpler battery packs lower costs The company buys battery cells and assembles its own packs rather than manufacturing the cells themselves.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of buys

Verb

Nope, the Crimson Tide would most likely be on the outside looking in, while someone else from the SEC grabs their spot in the postseason.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
The suspect runs inside, grabs rolls of lottery tickets, stuffs them into a bag and runs out.

— Tara Lynch, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of grabs

Noun

Others spoke of police chokeholds and the grainy footage that showed officers striking King with batons.

— David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Two off-duty California State Parks officers rescued a woman from a burning vehicle Friday morning after a rollover off Highway 70 in Sutter County, officials said.

— Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of officers

Verb

Much of the industry still purchases engineering through FTEs, hourly rates and team capacity.

— Luis Aburto, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Rulings in two appeals courts defined a consumer, under this law, as anybody who purchases, rents or subscribes to any good or service from a videotape service provider.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of purchases

Verb

This is the area where, if an ember lands and ignites something — a pile of firewood, a trash can or a deck — fire can break into the house and burn it down.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Day two of the STAT Summit is just kicking off as this newsletter lands in inboxes.

— Mario Aguilar, STAT, 15 Oct. 2026