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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of principled
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
Chrissie Davis Chrissie Davis is rewriting what leadership in construction looks like and proving that principled leadership can succeed and scale.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 28 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
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Chrissie Davis Chrissie Davis is rewriting what leadership in construction looks like and proving that principled leadership can succeed and scale.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 28 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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That would be the honest, fair and honorable thing to do.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
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This reversal deeply disrespects every honorable soldier who's had our Stars and Stripes draped over their casket as Taps play in the background.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Advertisement Bioprinting, which Putin seemed to reference to Xi, faces ethical and legal concerns, but Russia has ramped up its investment in it.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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According to the Natural History Museum, images will undergo an authenticity check during the final round, and submissions will be judged based on originality, narrative, and adherence to ethical practices.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But all friends need to be honest with each other, to tell each other home truths when it’s needed, to confront those awkward moments without fear of the reaction.—
Steve Sedgwick,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
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But when those larger firms start to adopt similar habits—open forums, early interventions, honest check-ins—things change fast.—
Stephan Lendi,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Being fat is not a moral failing for which people should be punished.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Early birds have long basked in the glory of health superiority, sometimes even tinged with a hit of moral righteousness.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Swag itself opened with a respectable 163,000 overall units back in July despite having few physical album sales since his physical units hadn’t shipped out yet.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
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And at least Brentford’s human-rights record is respectable.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Younger adults in particular are less conscientious, agreeable, extroverted and open to new experiences than past generations, while neuroticism — marked by anxiety and emotional instability — is rising.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
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Most of the traits that are good, like being conscientious and agreeable are also cool, but in different capacities.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principled. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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