Synonyms of principled

principled

adjective

ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəld 

1

as in honorable

following the accepted rules of moral conduct

a high-principled art expert who always told clients what he honestly thought their items were worth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• honorable
• ethical
• honest
• respectable
• noble
• decent
• righteous
• upright
• upstanding
• conscientious
• good
• just
• moral
• nice
• respected
• stand-up
• irreproachable
• unassailable
• blameless
• unimpeachable
• proper
• virtuous
• chivalrous
• polite
• classy
• guiltless
• high-minded
• scrupulous
• incorruptible
• reputable
• right-minded
• fair
• uncorrupted
• decorous
• seemly
• menschy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unprincipled
• unjust
• dishonest
• dishonorable
• unworthy
• unethical
• low
• base
• ignoble
• criminal
• evil
• unrighteous
• immoral
• reprehensible
• corrupt
• bad
• mean
• sinful
• roguish
• crooked
• nefarious
• unfair
• iniquitous
• rotten
• unscrupulous
• rascally
• wicked
• vile
• villainous
• wretched
• culpable
• blameworthy
• knavish
• blamable
• censurable
• scoundrelly
• disreputable
• shameful
• loose
• disgraceful
• blackguardly
• perverse
• venal
• dissolute
• degenerate
• depraved
• perverted
• profligate
• libertine
• degraded
• demoralized
• debased
• decadent
• debauched
• dissipated
• reprobate

2

as in ethical

guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong

a politician widely respected for her principled behavior in every office she ever held

Synonyms & Similar Words

• honorable
• ethical
• moral
• conscientious
• honest
• responsible
• scrupulous
• good
• worthy
• respectful
• decent
• conscionable
• true
• virtuous
• just
• reliable
• righteous
• upright
• dutiful
• respected
• trustworthy
• right-minded
• straight
• observant
• solid
• reputable
• esteemed
• trusty
• upstanding
• tried-and-true
• overconscientious
• law-abiding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unprincipled
• unjust
• dishonest
• immoral
• unscrupulous
• dishonorable
• unethical
• evil
• unconscionable
• immoral
• bad
• wicked
• sinful
• cutthroat
• indecent
• unreliable
• unrighteous
• untrustworthy
• corrupt
• degenerate
• dissolute
• depraved
• perverted
• debased
• debauched
• villainous
• infamous
• vicious
• low
• atrocious
• evil-minded
• base
• mean
• vile
• nefarious
• reprobate
• iniquitous

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of principled

Anne and Abel rarely brought up the past with Michael and Robby, but when Ethel and Julius did come up, the Meeropols reinforced their sons’ impression of them as brave, principled people who had been wrongly executed. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

The cast is led by Whiplash and Oz actor Simmons, who plays gang leader Eamonn Sweeney, and Brittney as James ‘Jimmy’ Roarke, with Welliver playing a different kind of cop to his principled Bosch character. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 July 2026

The problem with the theory of Warsh as a principled inflation fighter is that, as his statements over the past year or so make clear, his views have been all over the place. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 23 June 2026

In San Jose, Cohen has developed a reputation as a principled realist who has pursued progress over purity. — Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 1 June 2026