Definition of espousalnext
1
as in marriage
a ceremony in which two people are united in matrimony the expected espousal of the Hollywood actor and the singing superstar should attract the elite of show business

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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

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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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espousal
Noun
  • But Clark also sells the app as a way to spice up their marriages, not as a choice that invites divorce.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Over 4,000 couples were married, including Rosie O’Donnell and her partner, Kelli Carpenter, before the California Supreme Court later voided the marriages.
    CNN.com, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • That marked one of the most significant engagements between the two groups since a fragile ceasefire went into effect in November 2024, and Israel has not ruled out further action.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Anthropocene framing conscripts the work into contemporary climate discourse, rendering its specific engagement with Kazakh nomadic destruction merely illustrative of broader ecological crisis.
    Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Tragically, just three years after this wedding, O’Byrne would also preside over Kennedy and Bessette’s funeral.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
  • But Carolyn and John, in trying to go against the grain and trying to be small and off the grid, actually changed the wedding industry overnight.
    Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Espousal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espousal. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.

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