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 Trump has long espoused a hardline immigration message, though, centering each of his three presidential campaigns around the issue - and Republicans say his recent efforts signal this is a political fight the White House wants to have with its opponents. Zac Anderson, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025 That stack also featured several books by David Irving, a disgraced British historian who has denied the existence of the Nazi gas chambers and helped popularize the theory about Mr. Churchill’s culpability in World War II espoused by Mr. Cooper on Mr. Carlson’s show. Joseph Bernstein, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 Despite Modelo Especial currently being the best-selling beer in America, lower-alcohol beers, and beers espousing low carbohydrate content, have been growing in popularity. Don Tse, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 Her replacement, Republican Andrew Ferguson, is expected to espouse a more pro-merger stance, despite his vows that the downsized agency still has the resources to take on Big Tech. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for espouse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espouse
Verb
  • She and the Coast Guardsman were married early this year, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an enforcement incident.
    CBS News, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Alvarado left Guatemala as a teenager and married Nixon at 19.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Billy Ray adopted Brandi and Trace, who are Tish's children from a previous relationship.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Daly and her husband adopted Buu, giving their once-struggling pup Tadpole a new best friend as the family waits for their next apartment.
    Simone Jasper, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Even the more traditional and long standing players are embracing AI rapidly.
    Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, M.D., Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • An English professor at Emory & Henry, Matthew has fully embraced our community since relocating from Iowa and had spent the previous day volunteering at a food-distribution center in Damascus.
    Barbara Kingsolver, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The company also has introduced its five key colors for spring-summer 2027 that are said to borrow from tradition, culture and wisdom to relay a sense of being grounded and resilient.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Treasury yields set the benchmark for borrowing costs across the economy, influencing everything from consumer mortgage rates to corporate bond pricing to financing the federal debt.
    Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Espouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espouse. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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