cope
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A coping mechanism or self-delusion one clings to in order to endure a hopeless situation.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
There was some public grousing about the number of white supremacists attempting to recruit, however; some incels argued that white supremacy was just another "cope"–just another self-deluding attempt to cover over the grim truth of the blackpill.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “cope” mean?
A coping mechanism or self-delusion one clings to in order to endure a hopeless situation.
Is “cope” formal or informal?
cope is generally slang.