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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
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Recent Examples of espoused
Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2026
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
He's found success as a media personality by posting news and conservative political commentary, which has espoused various conspiracy theories.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Next, Hathaway espoused the importance of hair and makeup to the crowd before asking Wintour to once again reveal the nominees.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
Overall, the study participants who saw the biased AI text shifted their positions toward those espoused by the AI.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
Racial profiling is virtually a stated part of the department’s strategy, and ad campaigns have openly espoused white-nationalist rhetoric and talking points.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
No matter what agenda the president espoused—the economic pragmatism of Rafsanjani, the liberal aspirations of Mohammad Khatami, the populist provocations of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the nuclear diplomacy of Hassan Rouhani—Khamenei emasculated him.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026
After Dylann Roof massacred nine African American worshippers at Charleston’s Emmanuel AME Church in 2015, he was found to have espoused white supremacist ideas and posted a photo of the Confederate battle flag on his website.
—Jennifer Murray, The Conversation, 18 Feb. 2026
Assad, a member of the Alawite religious minority, officially espoused a secular ideology.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Notably, though, many Americans—regardless of party—espoused evolving views on the nature of America’s relationships with China, Canada and Mexico, its top three trading partners.
—Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
Rather than focusing on the conspiracy theories Jones espoused, the new InfoWars will build its comedic base off a spoof of the old site’s predatory snake oil rackets.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
He's found success as a media personality by posting news and conservative political commentary, which has espoused various conspiracy theories.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Next, Hathaway espoused the importance of hair and makeup to the crowd before asking Wintour to once again reveal the nominees.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
Overall, the study participants who saw the biased AI text shifted their positions toward those espoused by the AI.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
Racial profiling is virtually a stated part of the department’s strategy, and ad campaigns have openly espoused white-nationalist rhetoric and talking points.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
No matter what agenda the president espoused—the economic pragmatism of Rafsanjani, the liberal aspirations of Mohammad Khatami, the populist provocations of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the nuclear diplomacy of Hassan Rouhani—Khamenei emasculated him.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026
After Dylann Roof massacred nine African American worshippers at Charleston’s Emmanuel AME Church in 2015, he was found to have espoused white supremacist ideas and posted a photo of the Confederate battle flag on his website.
—Jennifer Murray, The Conversation, 18 Feb. 2026
Assad, a member of the Alawite religious minority, officially espoused a secular ideology.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espoused
Adjective
-
Ross was married to DJ and television personality Scott Ross from 1967 until his death in 2023.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Ross was married to the DJ and television personality Scott Ross from 1967 until his death in 2023.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This was borrowed directly from American sports reporters, with their propensity to exaggerate to make a point, often by citing absurd numbers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
-
In photos shared by his parents, Joaquin sported a sleek black tuxedo, borrowed from his dad!—
Lindy Segal,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Put pre-matched outfits on the same hanger.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Cambodian lawmakers unanimously adopted a new law in March targeting online scam operations with up to life in prison, following a government pledge to shut down the centers by the end of April.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Under legislation adopted in 2023, those documents are publicly filed on the secretary of state’s campaign finance website.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Thankfully, the Dark Sky movement is growing as more people become aware of the issue and learn about simple and cost-effective ways that can be embraced to reverse the course of destroying our night skies.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
At the New York City premiere on April 13, Hathaway embraced a futuristic, sculptural aesthetic on the red carpet, turning heads in a sheer gown that played with light and movement.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Johnson said the suggested economic damages of $5 million were for items including loss of earnings, loss of marital care and loss of guidance.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Musgraves and Lambert bonded over something else in their duet, beyond horse riding prowess and marital horror stories.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Espoused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espoused. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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