1
as in marrying
to give in marriage
a couple eager to espouse their eldest daughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in proposing
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
as in adopting
to take for one's own use (something originated by another)
after working among them for two years in the Peace Corps, she felt compelled to espouse the peasants' cause for social justice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of espousing
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
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
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
Thanks for coming on here and espousing all of this knowledge.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
No More Excuses Firms espousing these value creation principles generally outperform profit seekers—without the harm.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
However, not all demonstrations espousing hate speech are legal.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 13 June 2025
The idea that advocating membership in the EU and espousing a vague set of socially liberal values is counter-cultural would have seemed crazy a few years ago.
—Anand Menon, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2019
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 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
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
Thanks for coming on here and espousing all of this knowledge.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
No More Excuses Firms espousing these value creation principles generally outperform profit seekers—without the harm.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
However, not all demonstrations espousing hate speech are legal.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 13 June 2025
The idea that advocating membership in the EU and espousing a vague set of socially liberal values is counter-cultural would have seemed crazy a few years ago.
—Anand Menon, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espousing
Verb
-
Before marrying Urban in 2006, Kidman was married to Tom Cruise for more than a decade.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
9 Oct. 2025
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That connection led to her meeting the future senator and subsequently marrying him in 1958.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Before adopting, carefully assess your resources.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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Sergio Machado will direct and Sergio Carvalho will co-direct both the doc and biopic, which will be the first two productions in Brazil adopting the manual’s parameters of sustainability.—
Marcelo Cajueiro,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Instead, the key is to strike a balance between embracing opportunities that come your way while staying humble enough to recognize the privilege behind them and that others may have had to work much harder for the same chance.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
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The Oscar winner — who died at age 79 in California — opened up to PEOPLE in 2019 about embracing her independence.—
Melody Chiu,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sandinista ideology blended Marxism, liberalism, and nationalism, borrowing ideas from both sides of the Iron Curtain.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
8 Oct. 2025
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Armed with better products, Google search, and no allegiance to the subculture’s origins, people are borrowing from goth to imbue their makeup with an edge.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Espousing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espousing. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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