ESPOUSE Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

espouse

verb

i-ˈspau̇z

Definition of espouse

as in to marry

to give in marriage a couple eager to espouse their eldest daughter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

as in to adopt

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

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 At the time, neighbors like Cooke thought the policy was meant to deter flags showing support for sports teams or espousing political views. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Compared with protein, which lends itself to narratives of growth—more grams, more gains—fibre is a bit of a hard sell, likelier to be espoused by women in sensible shoes than by fitness junkies on Twitch. — Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 Originally then, a ‘cynic’ is simply someone who espoused the teachings of Antisthenes. — Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 And the people who espouse the belief are protected from those costs. — Rob Henderson, Washington Post, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for espouse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for espouse

Verb

They’ve been married for over 53 years and know each other inside and out.

— Nicole Borman, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Monroe, who married three times but had no children, is said to have gone in disguise to watch happy families and their children playing on the carousel.

— Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of marry

Verb

European consumers have lagged behind the rest of the world in adopting AC, due to high energy costs, expensive installation fees and restrictions on retrofitting the continent’s older buildings.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
The traffic restrictions added to a series of safety measures adopted in Old Sacramento after years of concerns about violence, large crowds and late-night activity in the historic district.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026

Definition of adopt

Verb

My favorite way to spend an afternoon, though, was borrowing one of the hotel's bicycles and pedaling around South of Fifth, where quiet residential streets quickly give way to cafés, the marina, and the fun buzz of Ocean Drive.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
Library rules in the 1870s stated that a book had to be returned and an overdue debt paid before another book could be borrowed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026

Definition of borrow

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espousals

espouse

espoused

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“Espouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espouse. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of espouse

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