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 next

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

Examples 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 While many Silicon Valley leaders espoused pro-Democrat views especially during the Obama years, Sacks became increasingly vocal in his conservative stances, especially around the Russia-Ukraine war and fighting censorship on tech platforms. —

Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 7 Dec. 2024 Yet Biden administration officials have not espoused the same explicitly anti-media rhetoric as Trump and his top allies have for years. —

Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024 At the same time, a large number of the participating factions espouse jihadist ideologies most Syrians reject. —

Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024 In the lead up to the election, numerous candidates from mainstream political parties espoused more extreme policies in relation to immigration, echoing those from the far-right. —

David Gilbert, WIRED, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for espouse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for espouse

Verb

The pair first met on vacation with their families in the Bahamas in May 2007 and eventually married on Dec. 19, 2009, in Long Island, N.Y.

Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Using color and music to tell that story — celebrating Black culture — the collection marries Black Radiance’s beauty know-how for darker skin tones with Cross Colours’ familiar palette of red, yellow, black and green, as well as its connection to ’80s and ’90s hip-hop.

Ryma Chikhoune, WWD, 20 Dec. 2024