1
as in to marry
to give in marriage a couple eager to espouse their eldest daughter

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2
as in to propose
to take as a spouse heeded his father's advice to espouse someone with whom he had common interests

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3

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb espouse differ from other similar words?

The words adopt and embrace are common synonyms of espouse. While all three words mean "to take an opinion, policy, or practice as one's own," espouse adds an implication of close attachment to a cause and a sharing of its fortunes.

espoused the cause of women's rights

In what contexts can adopt take the place of espouse?

The words adopt and espouse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, adopt implies accepting something created by another or foreign to one's nature.

forced to adopt new policies

When might embrace be a better fit than espouse?

The synonyms embrace and espouse are sometimes interchangeable, but embrace implies a ready or happy acceptance.

embraced the customs of their new homeland

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 espouse Conservatives have been decrying identity politics for years, and liberals have been just as vigorously espousing them as key to winning races. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025 There’s nothing new about humans seeking to optimize their health and extend their lives (Hippocrates espoused cold baths; Benjamin Franklin touted vegetarianism), but the medium has changed. Harvard Business Review, 20 Sep. 2025 The kind of free speech and lively discourse that Kirk espoused involved spreading hateful conspiracy theories and misinformation. Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2025 That’s the gamut of thought espoused by the head of a large dealer group and two executives at a company that specializes in dealership mergers and acquisitions during last week’s Automotive News World Congress in Detroit. Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for espouse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espouse
Verb
  • Next, brother and sister duo Itsuki (Joey Iwanaga) and Yuna (Akana Ikeda) are lured on a path that sees Yuna happily married with a child.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
  • And your mother married an old boyfriend of mine.
    Vogue, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Cookie who is believed to be a mix of a Labrador and American Staffordshire terrier is currently residing at Ingle’s in Brooklyn, New York, until she is adopted.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • While that message was certainly prescient—and one that the Party should not abandon entirely—Allsop also believes there’s room to adopt a more concrete platform against specific examples of élite corruption or the trampling of civil liberties.
    Erin Neil, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Associations that keep up with laws and embrace diligent management are simply better positioned for long-term stability and sustained owner confidence, even in the face of a shifting and sometimes unpredictable market.
    Maria Williams, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Bella Hadid embraced her off-duty attire with an autumnal spin, wearing a Mango trenchcoat layered over staple wardrobe pieces while out in Paris on Thursday.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • With Nvidia’s backing, OpenAI and Coreweave have been able to borrow at rates closer to what Microsoft or Google might pay.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The plant and equipment bubble should have been spotted because of all the money that was borrowed.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Espouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espouse. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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