as in principles
formal
a statement by an authority of how people should behave
the moral precepts of a religion
Related Words
Relevance
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 precepts
Even as her hard-line tactics have shown some success, Sheinbaum has not renounced the precepts of López Obrador, who, while retired, remains a revered and influential figure.
—
Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
To speak in the register of faith—not a particular sect or even God, but a grounding belief in a higher order—is to reach beyond partisanship, to try to return to basic moral precepts.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Kutcher’s character—the richest man in the world, who calls himself The Corporation—has, in defiance of all ethical, legal, and medical precepts, developed The Beauty.
—Judy Berman, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
Guided by its own creed, Beijing tends to wield economic power according to its own precepts rather than global norms or external expectations.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Some precepts are unassuming — practice tolerance, be generous towards those in need, regard humanity as a family.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025
Rival Dillard’s, a primarily Southern and Southwestern chain with 290 stores, has also seen modest growth by following those basic retail precepts.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Change is inevitable, but the rapid destruction of the basic precepts upon which our government was formed is beyond dangerous.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
To speak in the register of faith—not a particular sect or even God, but a grounding belief in a higher order—is to reach beyond partisanship, to try to return to basic moral precepts.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Kutcher’s character—the richest man in the world, who calls himself The Corporation—has, in defiance of all ethical, legal, and medical precepts, developed The Beauty.
—Judy Berman, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
Guided by its own creed, Beijing tends to wield economic power according to its own precepts rather than global norms or external expectations.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Some precepts are unassuming — practice tolerance, be generous towards those in need, regard humanity as a family.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025
Rival Dillard’s, a primarily Southern and Southwestern chain with 290 stores, has also seen modest growth by following those basic retail precepts.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Change is inevitable, but the rapid destruction of the basic precepts upon which our government was formed is beyond dangerous.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precepts
Noun
-
And now, a new Times analysis of the highest home values in California shows Newport Beach perched at the top.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
People have preferences, values and commitments regarding real-world outcomes, but AI systems intrinsically do not.—
Jon R. Lindsay,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The race could revive a pandemic-era rivalry between Kiley and Pan, who tussled over vaccine and public health rules while serving in the state Legislature.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The gap helps explain why authorities are tightening FX rules even as exporters press for more predictable conversion mechanics.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Address Fire Code Compliance Concerns Fire safety codes often require monitoring when alarm or sprinkler systems are not working.—
Matthew Kayser,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Quotas, speech codes and identity politics now mocked as woke and un-American, often defied common sense.—
Maurice O'Sullivan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His preference would be to find simpler axioms for quantum mechanics — intuitive principles that would let theorists re-derive the theory in a new form altogether.—
Daniel Garisto,
Quanta Magazine,
7 Nov. 2025
-
In other words, as Cleveland tore through the league last season, the players responded to most of the milestones reached with a collective shrug and worn axioms about nothing mattering until the playoffs.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Maybe anyone planning long journeys should take those maxims as advice anyhow.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The rest of the book is spent expanding on these maxims one by one, in her colloquial, easy style, with references to classic psychological studies, her own research and her own experiences.—
Lamorna Ash,
The Dial,
25 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Nessel's office alleges that Kalshi has circumvented Michigan's gambling laws by offering users to trade contracts based on whether specific events will happen, acting and operating like a gambling platform and should be subject to the same state laws that other online gaming apps are.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Australia has strong laws around foreign interference and national security, and those protections should apply here.—
Christina Macfarlane,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Precepts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precepts. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
