on principle
idiom
: because of one's beliefs
She refused on principle to give toy guns to the children.
Examples of on principle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Democrats and independents leaned toward compromise, while Republicans leaned toward standing on principle.
—
Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025
Though egg salad is simple on principle, there are still decidedly good ones, bad ones, and heavenly ones.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2025
Others feel conflicted, caught between wanting to stand on principle and wanting to support a Black woman who has worked tirelessly for her seat at the table.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 22 Sep. 2025
Four of the five county residents who serve as individual plaintiffs in the lawsuit claim financial hardships that put Santa Clara County’s permit expenses far out of reach, while one who did pay the fees objected on principle to having to bear the costs.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
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Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025
Though egg salad is simple on principle, there are still decidedly good ones, bad ones, and heavenly ones.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2025
Others feel conflicted, caught between wanting to stand on principle and wanting to support a Black woman who has worked tirelessly for her seat at the table.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 22 Sep. 2025
Four of the five county residents who serve as individual plaintiffs in the lawsuit claim financial hardships that put Santa Clara County’s permit expenses far out of reach, while one who did pay the fees objected on principle to having to bear the costs.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on principle
Cite this Entry
“On principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20principle. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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