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 Trump’s backers continued to complain about the touchscreen voting machines, with some loyalists espousing wild conspiracy theories. — Kate Brumback, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026 Kids will get the messages that Plensa espouses as quickly as adults, but this work is an easy, comprehensible introduction to how artists work, using surprising materials in inventive ways to make viewers consider the world differently. — Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 7 June 2026 But Pattie Gonia says their environmental work is now endangered by Patagonia, the outdoor-gear giant that has espoused similar environmentalist values. — Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 12 June 2026 Inside Hawley’s stance Hawley’s predictions of the dangers of AI to American workers come as the Missouri Republican has, over the last several years, attempted to stake out pro-worker stances and eschew the traditional, business friendly positions espoused by some Republicans. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for espouse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for espouse

Verb

In the June 23 Section A, the obituary for Greenspan said that he was married briefly to abstract artist Joan Mitchell.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Williams and the Reddit founder married in New Orleans in 2017, shortly after welcoming their first daughter, Alexis Olympia.

— Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 July 2026

Definition of marry

Verb

The agency also adopted additional security measures, such as surrounding the president with bullet-resistant glass at outdoor events.

— Bart Jansen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Traditional studios might adopt Chinese models for some preproduction tasks such as concepting, but the geopolitical and intellectual property risks for commercial generations are too prohibitive.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

Definition of adopt

Verb

High bond yields make borrowing more expensive for average Americans, since 10-year Treasury rates influence the rates offered for a variety of loans, including mortgages.

— Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Other platforms like TikTok and Instagram similarly borrow the wrong lessons from the scandal, Cambridge Analytica said.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Definition of borrow

Browse Nearby Words

espousals

espouse

espoused

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Espouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espouse. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of espouse

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on espouse

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes