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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of principled
This year, after Deborah Vance’s dream of being a late-night talk-show host ended with the character taking a principled stand against her own network and quitting the show, Hacks felt like the perfect show to make a statement on behalf of Hollywood.
—
Joe Reid, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025
That warning went unheeded, and Wisconsin has seen only the beginning of what an alarming shift from thoughtful, principled judicial service toward bitter partisanship, personal attacks, and political gamesmanship is that have no place in court.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
The origin of the Bill of Rights was less a principled and honorable declaration of the founders’ commitment to fundamental liberties and more a compromise to get the states to ratify the new Constitution of the United States.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 25 Aug. 2025
Doing so is both principled and a way to send a harsh, very needed and entirely deserved rebuke to California’s untrustworthy political establishment.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principled
Joe Reid, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025
That warning went unheeded, and Wisconsin has seen only the beginning of what an alarming shift from thoughtful, principled judicial service toward bitter partisanship, personal attacks, and political gamesmanship is that have no place in court.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
The origin of the Bill of Rights was less a principled and honorable declaration of the founders’ commitment to fundamental liberties and more a compromise to get the states to ratify the new Constitution of the United States.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 25 Aug. 2025
Doing so is both principled and a way to send a harsh, very needed and entirely deserved rebuke to California’s untrustworthy political establishment.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principled
Adjective
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Initially receiving a general discharge, Matlovich’s status was posthumously elevated to honorable.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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That would be the honest, fair and honorable thing to do.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In early August, the Daily Caller reported more ethical concerns.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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The Boone and Crockett Club is a leading voice for ethical, legal, and restrained hunting in North America, and often recalls that managed, legal hunting is responsible for the return of depleted wildlife populations in America a century ago.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Simmons is a shell of his former self as a playmaker and was never able to develop a jump shot to at least keep defenses honest.—
Noah Camras,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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And being honest about that helped build long-term trust.—
Greg Peters,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Attached to Paxton is a long list of ethical and moral problems.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Carlson pressed him on what moral framework governs those decisions.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But all of that also was punctured in the last Super Bowl, when the Chiefs fell behind 34-0 before putting up some late points to make the final margin appear far more respectable than the game was.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
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Duke has at least been respectable for some time.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Now, in the years since his brother's death, Melvin says he's become increasingly conscientious about his own health.—
Alex Ross,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
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Lawyers, over decades, tend to become more conscientious but less agreeable.—
Dave Winsborough,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principled. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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