on principle
idiom
: because of one's beliefs
She refused on principle to give toy guns to the children.
Examples of on principle in a Sentence
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Trump’s decision to withdraw about 2,000 troops from Syria reportedly led U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis to resign from his position, the first resignation on principle by a senior member of the cabinet in 40 years.
—
Robert Satloff, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2019
This final part of the process has been blocked by three countries—India, South Africa, and Turkey—that object on principle to the notion of plurilateral (rather than multilateral) agreements within the WTO.
—Kristen Hopewell, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2024
On a Saturday in February, 1960, during a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s, Lewis was punched in the ribs by a counter-protester, and then arrested along with dozens of fellow-students, who refused to pay their bail on principle.
—Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Though she’s had small groups of detractors attend her campaign stops, several progressive Democrats have sat them out on principle.
—Candy Woodall, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2024
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Robert Satloff, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2019
This final part of the process has been blocked by three countries—India, South Africa, and Turkey—that object on principle to the notion of plurilateral (rather than multilateral) agreements within the WTO.
—Kristen Hopewell, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2024
On a Saturday in February, 1960, during a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s, Lewis was punched in the ribs by a counter-protester, and then arrested along with dozens of fellow-students, who refused to pay their bail on principle.
—Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Though she’s had small groups of detractors attend her campaign stops, several progressive Democrats have sat them out on principle.
—Candy Woodall, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for on principle
Dictionary Entries Near on principle
Cite this Entry
“On principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20principle. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
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