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
And Trump himself has always treated foreign policy less as a series of interlocking principles than a negotiation between powerful players.
—
Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
My guiding principle would be protecting American interests while avoiding unnecessary entanglements—making decisions grounded in facts, realism, and a clear understanding of the regional, economic, and security implications involved.
—Rachel Royster
may 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
This paneling principle also applies to a series of folding screens whose leaves encase small-format artworks.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
That same principle applies directly to commercial real estate.
—Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for principle
Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
My guiding principle would be protecting American interests while avoiding unnecessary entanglements—making decisions grounded in facts, realism, and a clear understanding of the regional, economic, and security implications involved.
—Rachel Royster
may 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
This paneling principle also applies to a series of folding screens whose leaves encase small-format artworks.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
That same principle applies directly to commercial real estate.
—Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for principle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principle
Noun
-
Hernandez will continue competing under CIF rules permitting transgender participation and is scheduled to compete Saturday, May 16, before advancing to the CIF finals in Clovis later this month.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
According to Anthropic, decisions made before 2028 could determine whether democratic nations or authoritarian governments shape the future rules and standards surrounding advanced AI.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
That particular section, which sets new standards around warehouse operations and gives employees more information about company quotas and biometric surveillance, has drawn pushback from CBIA.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
The fire extinguisher incident was the latest pitfall in a season that, even by Marseille’s own inherently chaotic standards, has stretched the bounds of credibility.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Under Louisiana law, if no candidate clears the 50% threshold the top two finishers run again in a June 27 runoff.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
-
Passed in the final days of session and signed into law by Lamont earlier this week, the bill was praised as a massive victory for the state’s labor community and has been strongly embraced by unions and workers advocacy groups.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
The question turned into an accidental personality test, exposing some of each artist’s values.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
18 May 2026
-
Ryan Rollins was one of the only bright spots from Milwaukee’s season, providing great value as a playmaker and shooter who competes defensively and has a nose for the ball.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principle. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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