Synonyms of principle

principle

noun

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.

Related Words

• rule
• law
• standard
• value
• belief
• tenet
• theory
• precept
• moral
• hypothesis
• proposition
• norm
• axiom
• basis
• doctrine
• thesis
• truism
• dogma
• foundation
• gospel
• verity
• inference
• declaration
• assertion
• canon
• dictum
• affirmation
• deduction
• assumption
• conclusion
• premise
• ground
• presumption
• presupposition
• postulate
• hypothetical
• given
• supposition
• if
• avouchment
• ipse dixit

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of principle

Sure, and that self-deprecation is also a fundamental principle of comedy and humor, which is a lot of what your stories are doing too. — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

These same principles apply to how business leaders operate their companies. — Yavuz Usaklioglu, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The experience is even better when the animals live in a space where they are protected and decisions about the land are guided by conservation principles. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 23 Sep. 2026

Big picture, the board will set editorial principles based on CBS News and CNN’s existing standards, as well as resolve conflicts between journalists and management. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2026