doctrines

plural of doctrine
1
as in theologies
a statement or body of statements concerning faith or morals proclaimed by a church the Catholic Church's doctrine on the Eucharist

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in ideologies
the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group the doctrine of quantum physicists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example 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 doctrines First, the law takes its time in responding to new technologies, figuring that new tools can be accommodated within existing ideas, rules, and doctrines. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026 Because of the boldness of their political positions and doctrines, progressives can be seen as more charismatic than their more centrist counterparts. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Sep. 2026 Other doctrines like predestination (where some people are chosen for salvation and others are damned) have further broken the world into separate spheres. — Casper Ter Kuile, Vox, 16 Sep. 2026 Among them was the revival of medieval doctrines of just war, which subordinated contractual obligations to unilateral claims of moral authority—doctrines that resurfaced during the war on terror to justify pre-emptive attacks and torture. — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026 Greece sees the system as central to modernizing its forces amid tensions with NATO neighbor Turkey, embracing new doctrines to counter ballistic missiles, drones, cyber threats and other evolving forms of warfare. — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 As a kid growing up in a religious household, Jean found the strict doctrines of Christianity unconvincing. — Juliet Linderman, Fortune, 16 July 2026 Even Fitz-Gerald’s locker is a callback to his mom’s doctrines. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 10 July 2026 If America is to preserve its liberty, conservative legal scholars and judges will need to adjust to a new reality and revisit doctrines that no longer serve to protect the constitutional structure. — Gregg Nunziata, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doctrines
Noun
  • Instead, there are countless influencers, preachers, and personalities who have created niche movements with their own theologies and political alignments.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 11 July 2026
  • But theologies aside, Patmos is also downright breathtaking.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Both parties emerged from the progressive era as messy coalitions of diverse constituencies and interests, not uniform ideologies.
    — Isaac Arnsdorf, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026
  • But, politics aside, Bezmozgis set about to study in the best cinematic way possible how personal betrayals can be weaponized by political ideologies.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Far more valuable would be a pivot by the regime’s leadership away from some of the dogmas of its past, and toward reform.
    — Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 18 June 2026
  • The Dogma manifesto contains 10 new dogmas.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 May 2026
Noun
  • In 1959, Ted Kaczynski, then a 16-year-old undergraduate at Harvard, participated in a series of psychological experiments that asked gifted young men to debate their philosophies and values with other students.
    — Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Offshoots of the trend have ventured into sexist, misogynistic and racist philosophies, while Peters himself has drawn criticism for using racial slurs during his streams.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Few eras of Greek history compare to the ancient times that the country has become so synonymous with—the cinematic fables of Odysseus, comic-book lore of Leonidas, and philosophic creeds of Socrates are ever-present in pop culture.
    — Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
  • In that scene at the end, when the brass band is playing, and everyone’s walking together, all shapes and sizes, colors, creeds, that’s where hope lives.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Lawyers argued that the law infringes on the daycare’s right to protect their kids and direct their upbringing, as well as the freedom to associate with those who have similar public health beliefs, according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 23 Sep. 2026
  • His Christian beliefs give him a reason to look beyond his golf career.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Following the ceremony at City Hall where the NBA champions were given keys to New York City, confetti canons showered the Knicks with paper in the team's colors.
    — Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 18 June 2026
  • As the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, Hawke has found acting success by bestowing her charms in several high-profile projects such as Stranger Things and Inside Out 2 — or, for advanced studies, recent films in the Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson canons.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 18 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Doctrines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doctrines. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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