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as in borrows
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 espouses
Meanwhile, Starlight becomes a symbol of resistance against the might-makes-right ideology that Homelander espouses.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026
Colagreco’s hero restaurant espouses a sustainable gastronomy—in this case, elevating the humble British vegetable.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
Relative to its competitors, Anthropic espouses the most public concern with the safety risks of artificial intelligence.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 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
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
The Wizard espouses his own version of this idea, confident that the public can be appeased by the illusion of a common enemy.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
His opponent and the incumbent mayor is played by Pedro Pascal, who espouses more left-leaning politics and urges citizens of Eddington, New Mexico, to wear masks.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 21 Oct. 2025
Loeffler, along with first-year Eagles passing game coordinator Parks Frazier, is partly tasked with supplying them on a staff that espouses collaboration.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026
Colagreco’s hero restaurant espouses a sustainable gastronomy—in this case, elevating the humble British vegetable.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
Relative to its competitors, Anthropic espouses the most public concern with the safety risks of artificial intelligence.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 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
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
The Wizard espouses his own version of this idea, confident that the public can be appeased by the illusion of a common enemy.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
His opponent and the incumbent mayor is played by Pedro Pascal, who espouses more left-leaning politics and urges citizens of Eddington, New Mexico, to wear masks.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 21 Oct. 2025
Loeffler, along with first-year Eagles passing game coordinator Parks Frazier, is partly tasked with supplying them on a staff that espouses collaboration.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espouses
Verb
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Throughout their first five albums, the band has spun a web, not unlike the orb weavers of their native Virginia, that marries country, rock, honky-tonk grit and Appalachian soul with rowdy barroom energy.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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This is a movie that effortlessly marries primal poetry to the quotidian.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The method borrows from climate science, where attribution has been used for over two decades to determine how much of a heat wave or hurricane is explained by human activity.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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Oh, and who could forget how the monstrosity known as Doomsday is turned into a Jekyll and Hyde paramedic named Davis Bloome (Sam Witwer), while Zod (Callum Blue) borrows a page out of Captain Howdy's playbook by possessing Lex's body.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Slightly unsettled embraces the unfinished with clothing that’s imperfect.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
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His music embraces vulnerability, exploring themes of heartbreak and isolation.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Verb
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You were nominated for lots of awards for playing Queenie, the woman who adopts Brad Pitt’s character, including Best Supporting Actress at the 2009 Oscars.—
Zak Cheney-Rice,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
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If just one state adopts it, Moore said, it would be tested in court.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Espouses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espouses. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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