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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of espouse
Although Rubio never espoused anything like that in public, some of the new arrivals at State did.
—
Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Many of these staffers are defecting to a new organization called Advancing American Freedom, founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, that espouses a much more traditional view of conservatism.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
The group has seen several other departures after Roberts defended Tucker Carlson’s interview with the controversial Nick Fuentes, who has espoused antisemitic rhetoric.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2026
Outlaw country to the core, the Illinois native espouses an uncompromising independence and social-justice righteousness missing from the Nashville mainstream — and feigned for appearance’s sake in related circles.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for espouse
Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Many of these staffers are defecting to a new organization called Advancing American Freedom, founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, that espouses a much more traditional view of conservatism.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
The group has seen several other departures after Roberts defended Tucker Carlson’s interview with the controversial Nick Fuentes, who has espoused antisemitic rhetoric.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2026
Outlaw country to the core, the Illinois native espouses an uncompromising independence and social-justice righteousness missing from the Nashville mainstream — and feigned for appearance’s sake in related circles.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for espouse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espouse
Verb
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In emails sent in March and April 2003, Wasserman — who was married at the time — writes to Maxwell about wanting to book a massage and wanting to see her in a tight leather outfit.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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My other sister lives in Los Angeles, married a TV producer, and just wants to sell the home immediately.—
Christopher A. Combs,
AZCentral.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the middle of it is Lobotka; a Slovakian and adopted Neapolitan who plays like a Catalan.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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For Jones and his sisters, foster care was a soft place to land, and soon his grandparents stepped in, eventually adopting the siblings.—
Libby Smith,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This season, younger designers leant into heavy knitwear pieces, embracing ancient crafts by collaborating with local artisans to create sustainable wools, alongside innovating with materials and form.—
Amy O’Brien,
Vogue,
30 Jan. 2026
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While major city police departments have embraced a philosophy of cooling down heated encounters with the public, the immigration officers in Minneapolis did the opposite – right up to the moment of Pretti’s death.—
Yahya Abou-Ghazala,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Boys borrow their emotional vocabulary from adults.—
Dr. Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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This recipe borrows that same concept and scales it up to a Bundt pan size.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Espouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espouse. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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