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
Erika, played by Hüller in the latest of several remarkable performances, is less cautious and more principled.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
And that's a very, very big problem for Democrats who are trying to make principled arguments.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
In prosecutors’ telling, Ryan, fueled by his anger, intentionally killed his father-in-law, who was remembered by several friends as a principled and loving family man.
—Mark Morales, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Underneath the dry wit is a deep longing to believe in something principled.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for principled
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
And that's a very, very big problem for Democrats who are trying to make principled arguments.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
In prosecutors’ telling, Ryan, fueled by his anger, intentionally killed his father-in-law, who was remembered by several friends as a principled and loving family man.
—Mark Morales, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Underneath the dry wit is a deep longing to believe in something principled.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for principled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principled
Adjective
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Congratulations to the honorable so-and-so.—
Rafael Perez,
Daily News,
25 May 2026
-
Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties each had one beach with honorable status — Bluff Cove in Palos Verdes was the LA-area beach with consistently good-quality water.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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Some oppose hunting apex predators on ethical grounds, regardless of whether populations are considered healthy and sustainably managed.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
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Both companies have long been esteemed for their practices in ethical aquaculture.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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And to be honest, my biggest fear is AI.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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According to an Axios-Ipsos poll released in 2025, more than 70% of Americans believe that most politicians aren’t honest about their health.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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Like the traditions of so many Indigenous cultures around the world, European fairy tales, taken together, provide us with insight into every level of those interconnected stories, and remind us of the moral codes that allow all of us—human, other-than-human, planet—to flourish.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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To stay or to leave, goes the modern moral dilemma.—
CNT Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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The Miami Dolphins’ offense perked up Wednesday, delivering a respectable showing on the second day of the team’s mandatory minicamp.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
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Gustafsson’s game isn't about his offense despite having some elements (above-average skating and respectable handling for a big man).—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Cap Rocat also aims to preserve and strengthen the natural and social environment through a conscientious selection of suppliers engaged in sustainable fishing and organic and zero-kilometer products.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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This is considered a bit of an invasive plant, but conscientious gardeners can remove or till under unwanted seedlings.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Principled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principled. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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