as in rule
something (such as a belief or value) that helps a person know what is right and wrong and that influences their actions
He refused to participate on principle. It is against her principles to steal.
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Recent Examples of principle
These books and more have received high praise from many church leaders, who recognize Dr. Joseph’s ability to translate deep biblical principles into practical guidance for everyday believers.
—
Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2025
The same principles can apply to autoimmune conditions, digestive issues and other chronic symptoms.
—Jessica Dulong, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
The 12-step program is based on Biblical principles.
—Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
In the exploration phase, deep knowledge allows for meaningful manipulation and novel combinations of knowledge based on the fundamental rules and principles within a field of expertise to produce creative solutions.
—Ming-Chien Chyu, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principle
Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2025
The same principles can apply to autoimmune conditions, digestive issues and other chronic symptoms.
—Jessica Dulong, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
The 12-step program is based on Biblical principles.
—Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
In the exploration phase, deep knowledge allows for meaningful manipulation and novel combinations of knowledge based on the fundamental rules and principles within a field of expertise to produce creative solutions.
—Ming-Chien Chyu, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principle
Noun
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Dunne’s Back-Pay Argument Dunne committed to LSU in 2017, four years before the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Interim rules went into effect.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Blanket rules tend to hurt the innocent more than the guilty.—
Brad Weisenstein,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Venus and Uranus connect today, inspiring you to upgrade your standards.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
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As the Trump administration continues to roll out policies targeting immigrants, experts and immigration attorneys caution the likelihood of more officers following suit and creating a new standard.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The memo signed by Rubio also makes the case that another person, whose name is redacted, should be deportable under the same law.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2025
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This relic of constitutional law, which the Supreme Court hasn’t taken seriously since its quiet death in the New Deal era, is more mythical than historical—holding, more or less, that Congress cannot delegate its lawmaking power to another branch of government.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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However, the compounded value of correct predictions in later rounds, particularly the Elite Eight, Final Four, and championship, amplified the separation in weighted performance.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Wherever the original source of the incorrect headline came from, it was amplified by trusted sources in financial news, creating a very expensive lesson in the value of accurate and reliable reporting.—
Hadas Gold and Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principle. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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