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as in borrowed
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 espoused
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026
Many of the tenets that 18th-century Shaker movement founder Ann Lee espoused hundreds of years ago could well enlighten today’s not-always-inclusive culture, says Amanda Seyfried.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Although Rubio never espoused anything like that in public, some of the new arrivals at State did.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 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
Unfortunately, the Obama and Biden administrations pushed the reformist line (the Reformist line espoused by Rouhani and Khatami).
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The interview drew widespread backlash, including from MAGA figures such as Texas Senator Ted Cruz, for giving a platform to extremist views—Fuentes has espoused Holocaust denial and white nationalist ideology.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Moreover, in an example of catering to domestic political pressures, the PCA incorporated the values espoused by the powerful white supremacist southern political lobby into its code.
—Time, 18 Nov. 2025
The theory has long been espoused by White supremacists.
—Alexandria Burris, IndyStar, 17 Nov. 2025
Verb
Fink’s past critiques of capitalism Fink, who was appointed interim co-chair of the World Economic Forum in August 2025, replacing founder Klaus Schwab, has long espoused the reshaping of capitalism, seeing it as a responsibility of large asset managers like himself.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026
Many of the tenets that 18th-century Shaker movement founder Ann Lee espoused hundreds of years ago could well enlighten today’s not-always-inclusive culture, says Amanda Seyfried.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Although Rubio never espoused anything like that in public, some of the new arrivals at State did.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 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
Unfortunately, the Obama and Biden administrations pushed the reformist line (the Reformist line espoused by Rouhani and Khatami).
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The interview drew widespread backlash, including from MAGA figures such as Texas Senator Ted Cruz, for giving a platform to extremist views—Fuentes has espoused Holocaust denial and white nationalist ideology.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Moreover, in an example of catering to domestic political pressures, the PCA incorporated the values espoused by the powerful white supremacist southern political lobby into its code.
—Time, 18 Nov. 2025
The theory has long been espoused by White supremacists.
—Alexandria Burris, IndyStar, 17 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espoused
Adjective
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In Israel’s case, that typically includes mostly American Jews — and occasionally those married to American Jews — who are eligible for Israeli citizenship under the country’s Law of Return.—
Jacob Gurvis,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
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The upcoming seventh season — which releases all episodes on Netflix March 12 — sees the couple ready to start the next chapter of their lives married and welcoming a baby.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Appearing at the Marc Jacobs 2026 Runway Show at Park Avenue Armory in New York City on February 9, Fox donned a slinky look that borrowed from the silhouettes and color blocking of '80s fitness fashion while adding a distinctively modern spin.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
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If her name sounds familiar to Landman fans, that’s because Sheridan, a friend of the Goffs, apparently borrowed it for the steel magnolia of an oil wife, played by Demi Moore.—
Sarah Hepola,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Gripped by a worsening economic crisis, Cuba’s government recently adopted rationing measures to protect essential services and ration fuel supplies for key sectors.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2026
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Some guests got very into it—one adopted a fake British accent for the duration.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rodríguez herself hasn't embraced meaningful public debate of the nation's problems other than announcing the creation of an advisory commission on political co-existence to be headed by Villegas' brother, Culture Minister Ernesto Villegas.—
EGINA GARCIA CANO,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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In the days after the Bondi Beach massacre – allegedly committed by a father and son who had embraced Islamic State ideology – the government announced sweeping new gun laws, tougher rules on hate speech, and stronger powers for the home affairs minister to cancel visas on character grounds.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Composed at Rose’s prompting and anticipating Flanagan’s extraordinary Pain Journal, the volume is so direct in its account of the couple’s conjugal life that the Indian authorities tossed its original print run into the ocean before the books could ship from Chennai to New York.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
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Shortly after spurning his conjugal love tent vehicle, Colby received a call from Pontiac with a proposition.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Diana decorated her marital home with cheerful, cozy furniture, crafting a high-English space with designer Dudley Poplak.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
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The drafts mention marital discord between Gates and his then-wife Melinda.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Espoused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espoused. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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