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

In the ever more precarious world of academia, the neck of the principled luddite crank might be particularly attractive when institutions swing the axe in the next round of layoffs. — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

In an awful instant, two boys lose their mother and the movie loses any kind of principled posture. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

An unstoppable wave of democratic socialists is standing up for the working class and winning because of their principled stances — not despite them. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

The implicit neutrality of letting an inanimate object guided by a mysterious, principled force make the decision — rather than a living, breathing, fallible entity — is meant to elevate the honor. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Aug. 2026