principled
adjective
prin·ci·pled
ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəld 
-sə-bəld
: exhibiting, based on, or characterized by principle
—often used in combination
Examples of principled in a Sentence
She took a principled stand on funding public education.
a high-principled art expert who always told clients what he honestly thought their items were worth
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet the competent and principled men on the island were wiped out under colonization.
—
Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
But in the 21st century, American power depends on principled leadership, allies, and legitimacy.
—Loree Sutton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Ultimately, choosing forestry mulching as a first step in land planning can be both pragmatic and principled.
—Jon Stojan, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Throughout, there’s a principled commitment to not letting himself off the hook, but, also, a tenderness with his younger self.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principled
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.
Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
But in the 21st century, American power depends on principled leadership, allies, and legitimacy.
—Loree Sutton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Ultimately, choosing forestry mulching as a first step in land planning can be both pragmatic and principled.
—Jon Stojan, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Throughout, there’s a principled commitment to not letting himself off the hook, but, also, a tenderness with his younger self.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principled
Cite this Entry
“Principled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/principled. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
principled
adjective
prin·ci·pled
ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəld
-sə-bəld
: based on or marked by principle
high-principled
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share