as in rule
something (such as a belief or value) that helps a person know what is right and wrong and that influences their actions
He refused to participate on principle. It is against her principles to steal.
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Recent Examples of principle
Respect is the guiding principle.
—
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2026
Those are not abstract AI principles.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
These songs operate on Imagist principles, confined to a single image or snippet of conversation and sometimes eschewing a second verse to pursue a linear start-to-finish structure.
—Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
But the First Amendment is more than a few eloquent phrases about free speech, and its principles are far from historical relics.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for principle
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2026
Those are not abstract AI principles.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
These songs operate on Imagist principles, confined to a single image or snippet of conversation and sometimes eschewing a second verse to pursue a linear start-to-finish structure.
—Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
But the First Amendment is more than a few eloquent phrases about free speech, and its principles are far from historical relics.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for principle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principle
Noun
-
Rollins credited the administration's crackdown on fraud and recipients who aren't legally authorized to be in the country, as well as the new rules.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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Growing numbers of Labour MPs called for Starmer to quit, but with Burnham unable to run as party leader – and hence prime minister – since rules and convention state that only serving MPs can do so, no one was willing or able to launch an official challenge.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Noun
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There’s no doubt that Damien safety Gavin Williams, a USC commit, will be the standard for excellence this coming season.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
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With complimentary babysitting and free extra cots and cribs standard with any stay, families can hunker down and know they will be treated to island hospitality while being able to take advantage of snorkeling, scuba diving, nature walks, and beachfront cottages.—
Chelsea Adams,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Noun
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The groups challenging the restriction said the state law prevents social service organizations from helping voters with disabilities or those who are not proficient in English, a conflict with the Voting Rights Act.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
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Anthropic calls for more stringent regulation and supports efforts by states such as New York and California that have passed more aggressive AI laws.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Noun
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The sweeping changes will reflect Britain’s values, helping to protect children online while pushing back against the power of big technology companies, Starmer told a press conference.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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Seek roles in the ascending 30%—organizations centered on genuine customer value, where AI multiplies human potential.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principle. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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