coping
6 synonyms for coping, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The way someone deals with stress, hardship, or a difficult situation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
copestone
How to use coping
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
coping mechanism
coping strategy
wall coping
Etymology
From the verb cope ("to cover, to manage") plus -ing.
Full origin of coping →Frequently asked questions
What does “coping” mean?
The word “coping” means the way someone deals with stress, hardship, or a difficult situation. In plain terms, most often means handling a hard situation; in building terms it means the capping layer on top of a wall.
How do you use “coping” in a sentence?
Here is “coping” used in a sentence: “Exercise became her main coping strategy during exams.”
What part of speech is “coping”?
“Coping” is a noun.
Is “coping” a common word?
“Coping” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “coping” have?
“Coping” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the way someone deals with stress, hardship, or a difficult situation.
What is the difference between coping and healing?
Coping refers to the way someone deals with stress, hardship, or a difficult situation while it is happening or ongoing, while healing refers to recovering from harm or distress over time, often after the difficulty has passed. A person can be coping with an illness while still in the process of healing.
What are common coping mechanisms people use?
Coping mechanisms are the specific strategies people use to deal with stress or hardship, such as talking to others, exercise, journaling, or relaxation techniques. The word coping refers broadly to this general process of managing difficulty, of which such mechanisms are the specific tools.
What does coping mean in construction or architecture?
In construction, coping refers to the sloped top course of a wall, typically made of stone, brick, or concrete, built to shed rainwater and protect the wall below from moisture damage. This is a distinct, unrelated sense from coping with stress.
