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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Meanwhile, parties espousing nationalist rhetoric are on the rise across Europe, with right-wing nationalist movements counting historic electoral turnouts in a number of nations. Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 The research found that 59% of those posts espoused conspiracy theories about Jews, such as that Jewish people control governments, that Jews are satanic in nature, or that the Holocaust never occurred or misrepresentations of what happened during the Holocaust. Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025 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, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025 The actress, who rose to fame for her role as Hermione Granger across the series' eight movies, had previously spoken out in support of trans rights after Rowling first began espousing anti-trans rhetoric in 2019. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for espouse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espouse
Verb
  • They were married only for two years before Spears filed for divorce, and the two fought a bitter battle over custody.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Once off the track, friend and soon-to-be family member, Samantha Corum (married to Kelce’s cousin, Tanner) shared post-game fits to Instagram that revealed the revamp.
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Johnstons adopted Alex on May 17, 2008.
    Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Investors and regulators should adopt transparent, comparable metrics so capital rewards genuine impact, not greenwash.
    Olivier Wenden, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Jodie Turner-Smith Jodie Turner-Smith embraced extravagant beaded detailing in her Georges Chakra look.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Hollywood Leans In All of this has put Hollywood on notice, and the traditional entertainment industry is showing more eagerness to embrace the creator economy.
    Taylor Lorenz, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • To borrow a cliche, the M’s feel like the team of destiny.
    The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
  • In the novel, Laura knocks on the door, hoping to borrow mascara, and the girl in question answers the door, even lending her the mascara.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Espouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espouse. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on espouse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!