1
2
as in engagement
the act or state of being engaged to be married
considering how long her previous marriage lasted, she'd be wise to have an extended espousal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 espousal
The Trump administration is also unwinding another key tool of American soft power: the country’s espousal of liberal democratic values.
—
Robert O. Keohane, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2025
Supporting Yoon’s impeachment, Lee has also condemned Yoon’s unconstitutional abuse of martial law and espousal of election fraud conspiracy theory.
—Jong Eun Lee, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
The actually existing transatlantic relationship has long been based on a common espousal of liberal democracy, built on the legacy of defeating fascism in World War II.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2025
The tradition is an espousal of values, holding space for connection and unhurried conversation.
—Olivia Schellenberg, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2024
The 24-year-old is part of a community of women who have gained popularity — and notoriety — online for their espousal of what can feel like antiquated dating guidance.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024
He has been both praised and widely criticized for his espousal of the necessity of traditional gender roles.
—David Marchese David Marchese Photograph By Mamadi Doumbouya, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2023
First elected to Congress in 2020, Greene drew criticism for her espousal of extremist beliefs and using racist and antisemitic rhetoric.
—Shannon Larson, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Jan. 2023
Robert O. Keohane, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2025
Supporting Yoon’s impeachment, Lee has also condemned Yoon’s unconstitutional abuse of martial law and espousal of election fraud conspiracy theory.
—Jong Eun Lee, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
The actually existing transatlantic relationship has long been based on a common espousal of liberal democracy, built on the legacy of defeating fascism in World War II.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2025
The tradition is an espousal of values, holding space for connection and unhurried conversation.
—Olivia Schellenberg, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2024
The 24-year-old is part of a community of women who have gained popularity — and notoriety — online for their espousal of what can feel like antiquated dating guidance.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024
He has been both praised and widely criticized for his espousal of the necessity of traditional gender roles.
—David Marchese David Marchese Photograph By Mamadi Doumbouya, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2023
First elected to Congress in 2020, Greene drew criticism for her espousal of extremist beliefs and using racist and antisemitic rhetoric.
—Shannon Larson, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espousal
Noun
-
Among the likely candidates, though, two songs stand out as marriages of craft and commerce.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The show, which landed in the Mile High City for its ninth season, came to a dramatic conclusion this week and made history as the first season in the franchise with zero successful marriages.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The only way that such a minor joke would set a fiancée off is if her engagement was already in a delicate place, and that is none of the housewives’ jobs to fix.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The pair announced their engagement on October 5, 2025, with a joint Instagram post of what appeared to be an engagement shoot with photos of Destiny showing glimpses of her new rock.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The courthouse is named after Osvaldo Soto, a Cuban-American lawyer who led the fight in the 1980s to repeal the county’s English-only ordinance that, among other things, stopped clerks from conducting courthouse weddings in Spanish.—
Douglas Hanks
November 10,
Miami Herald,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Drea Nicole and Lex P, the hosts of the Pour Minds podcast, act as caterers of Walker’s wedding while gossiping about her A-list guests.—
Heran Mamo,
Billboard,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Espousal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espousal. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share