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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of principle
And while these employees can in principle save money on their own, many are forced to prioritize putting food on the table and paying the bills in the present over building a nest egg for the future, the study found.
—
Alain Sherter, CBS News, 27 June 2025
The planks are also constrained to a number of set dimensions, and in doing this, the collection nods to modernist principles of standardization but also simplicity and utility, values held by the Shakers.
—Adrian Madlener, Curbed, 26 June 2025
That has been the driving principle of America's successful nuclear policy for decades, and with one capricious order, President Trump has inadvertently made the nightmare of a proliferation cascade much more likely.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
Looking ahead, Gupta outlined the platform’s design principles for global applicability: inclusivity (maximizing platform access), intuitive user experiences (minimizing friction), interactivity (leveraging digital’s two-way communication), and immersion (creating deeply engaging experiences).
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for principle
Alain Sherter, CBS News, 27 June 2025
The planks are also constrained to a number of set dimensions, and in doing this, the collection nods to modernist principles of standardization but also simplicity and utility, values held by the Shakers.
—Adrian Madlener, Curbed, 26 June 2025
That has been the driving principle of America's successful nuclear policy for decades, and with one capricious order, President Trump has inadvertently made the nightmare of a proliferation cascade much more likely.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
Looking ahead, Gupta outlined the platform’s design principles for global applicability: inclusivity (maximizing platform access), intuitive user experiences (minimizing friction), interactivity (leveraging digital’s two-way communication), and immersion (creating deeply engaging experiences).
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for principle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principle
Noun
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But if Ayatollah Khamenei and his regime is seriously weakened that could destabilize the rule of the theocrats.—
Ian Pannell,
ABC News,
18 June 2025
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Chef Black’s approach to fine dining breaks conventional rules, and that’s exactly what makes Grey Sweater special.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Some of those tracks remain standards from that era and rank not just among the most successful, but also the most critically acclaimed of all time.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
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By offering real production opportunities, visibility, and support, this initiative continues to stand out for its entrepreneurial approach to inclusion and capacity-building, setting a new standard in the national industry.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
18 June 2025
Noun
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James Gabbert/Getty Images The Context Texas law allows people with a license to conceal carry a gun and to possess that gun on college campuses.—
Sophie Clark
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
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Florida law outlines sweeping powers available in a state of emergency, including the governor’s ability to use and deploy all available county and local resources.—
Skyler Swisher,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 June 2025
Noun
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The mission was one of five awarded in 2023 to ULA under the NSSF Phase 2 task orders worth $566 million, but the individual value was not released by the DOD.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 June 2025
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In a similar way to how Craig’s era as Bond dealt with the debate about the need for human field agents in a modern period of digital surveillance, First Light looks to be exploring the value of having agents the government can trust.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principle. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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