How to Use spousal in a Sentence

spousal

1 of 2 adjective
  • Lee had pleaded no contest to a felony charge of spousal battery in that case.
    — Sarah Parvini, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2023
  • All three nominees were or had spousal ties to Biden campaign bundlers.
    — Arlette Saenz, CNN, 6 Aug. 2021
  • If the actor makes less than that amount, the spousal support will be adjusted.
    — Mica Soellner, Washington Examiner, 10 July 2020
  • Tina asked for nothing in the form of spousal support or music royalties.
    — Troy L. Smith, cleveland, 2 May 2021
  • In the filing, Bonet asked for joint child custody and no spousal support for either side.
    — Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 8 Jan. 2024
  • His benefit will not be reduced, nor will any spousal benefit of his current wife.
    — New York Times, 28 June 2021
  • Bonet has requested joint custody of their children and no spousal support for either side.
    — EW.com, 8 Jan. 2024
  • The couple also didn’t seek spousal support at the time and asked to separate their assets.
    — Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 5 Dec. 2025
  • The man also was arrested on suspicion of spousal abuse, Nicol said.
    — Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2022
  • In fact, the simple act of you claiming an ex-spousal benefit will not affect his own benefit at all.
    — Nathan Bachrach and Amy Wagner, The Enquirer, 11 Feb. 2021
  • The pair waived their right to pursue spousal support, according to documents.
    — Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2022
  • Anderson called the police, and Lee was arrested and sentenced to six months in jail for spousal abuse.
    — Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2023
  • Settlement papers say that neither owes the other any spousal support, but both reserve the right to seek it through the court in the future.
    — Andrew Dalton, ajc, 30 Dec. 2021
  • But during last year’s voting, Vizquel was accused of spousal abuse in a story in the Athletic.
    — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 26 Jan. 2022
  • Mowry, who has a prenuptial agreement with Hardrict, is also asking the judge to terminate spousal support.
    — Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 4 Oct. 2022
  • The luxury real estate agent will not receive spousal support as his tax-free payment will be granted upfront.
    — Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 24 Oct. 2023
  • There is no request for spousal support, the documents state, as the men signed a post-nuptial agreement on May 3 that waived it.
    — Randi Richardson, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2023
  • In 2019, a gay civil servant won his appeal on spousal benefits for his husband.
    — Time, 30 Sep. 2022
  • Additionally, the spousal support will be determined by the prenup.
    — Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 20 July 2023
  • That means that Alice, the teacher, will still get $280 in spousal benefits from Ted’s record.
    — Tom Margenau, Dallas News, 3 Sep. 2023
  • The luxury real estate agent will not receive spousal support as his tax-free payment will be granted upfront as opposed to over time.
    — Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 7 Oct. 2023
  • The spousal notice requirement, in particular, troubled the former state court judge.
    — Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Dec. 2023
  • His mother was a victim of spousal abuse, which ended up causing a permanent back injury that interfered with her ability to hold a job.
    — Diane Bell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2023
  • One of the more recent additions was the clarification that not every spousal absence is a pirate season.
    — Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2023
  • The level of spousal support would become the centerpiece of the yearlong dispute, with the sides battling to agree on an appropriate amount.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 July 2021
  • In 2001, he was arrested after his ex-wife Tiani Warden accused him of spousal abuse.
    — Justine Browning, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2022
  • Public records show Brunner has a previous felony conviction of spousal abuse from 2013.
    — Melissa Hernandezstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2022
  • According to the outlets, Bonet has also petitioned the court to not give spousal support to herself or Momoa.
    — USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024
  • According to the documents, Christina and Ant both opted out of spousal support and agreed to each pay their own attorney’s fees.
    — Taylor Mead, House Beautiful, 23 May 2022
  • The lump-sum agreement will replace monthly payments of spousal support that are guaranteed under the prenuptial agreement, according to the source.
    — Bill Donahue, Billboard, 29 Dec. 2021

spousal

2 of 2 noun
  • Lee was later charged with spousal and child abuse and was sentenced to six months in jail.
    — Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2021
  • Some women can count on spousal pensions, others may not be so lucky.
    — The Economist, 5 Oct. 2017
  • Neither will pay spousal support.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Details around spousal and child support take months and sometimes years to get ironed out.
    — Louise Rafkin, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2022
  • This means those who show a clear sign of violence through things like stalking or spousal abuse.
    — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, 24 Sep. 2019
  • At the time, Brigette requested spousal support.
    — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
  • In the unlikely event of a split, would Swift have to pay Kelce spousal support?
    — Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • Little keeps us safe from a workplace grievance, spousal or partner fury, racial vendetta.
    — Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2023
  • Carol isn’t due (and doesn’t expect) any spousal benefits on Bob’s record.
    — Tom Margenau, Dallas News, 5 Mar. 2023
  • And will my benefit go up to give me credit for the spousal share that was being deducted from my checks?
    — Tom Margenau, Dallas News, 25 June 2023
  • The increase in your spousal rate should offset most if not all of the reduction in your own benefit rate.
    — Laurence Kotlikoff, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2023
  • Touchy topics like alcoholism, depression and spousal abuse come up, too, mixed in with ideas on what to do with spare time.
    — Ken Belson, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2017
  • Is there any advantage to go back and file for the child-in-care spousal benefit retroactively?
    — Laurence Kotlikoff, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2023
  • At the time, the government did not offer full spousal benefits for gay couples.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 7 Nov. 2023
  • This is mooching to the extreme, because these neighbors seem to have taken your spousal trust in one another.
    — Amy Dickinson, chicagotribune.com, 7 May 2018
  • At the time, she could have been entitled to spousal support, but elected not to pursue any payments.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 31 Mar. 2026
  • In response, Christina asked for spousal support and that her ex-husband pay her legal fees.
    — Jackie Frere, Redbook, 23 Jan. 2018
  • Court documents indicated that both of them waived child and spousal support rights.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Parties can agree to waive items such as spousal support or to keep their income as separate property.
    — Patricia Fersch, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
  • In that case, deciding to be quiet and just be scarce when John’s around would demonstrate a certain spousal savvy.
    — Washington Post, 5 May 2022
  • Also lowered the age at which a husband or wife can get spousal or widows benefits to 62.
    — Tom Margenau, Dallas News, 28 June 2020
  • Also lowered the age at which a husband or wife can get spousal or widow’s benefits to 62.
    — Tom Margenau, Dallas News, 13 Aug. 2023
  • Kerri Ann was awarded $6,400 per month in spousal support.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
  • Dreka is seeking joint legal and physical custody of their two children, along with spousal support.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 18 Aug. 2025
  • The singer also asked that the court be prevented from awarding spousal support to Costabile.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
  • All alimony and spousal support claims are hereby forever waived by the parties.
    — Sean Mandell, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Hader, who starred in Trainwreck, also stated that spousal support should be paid to Carey.
    — Natalie Stone, PEOPLE.com, 5 Mar. 2018
  • Neither of the actors will be requesting spousal support, which could be because of a possible prenup in place.
    — Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 10 Jan. 2024
  • The drummer eventually served time in jail for felony spousal abuse and they were divorced in 1998.
    — Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 15 Jan. 2023
  • Sharron Frontiero had sought the same spousal benefits for her husband as a male service member would get.
    — Michael O’Sullivan, kansascity, 10 May 2018

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spousal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: