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
Recent Examples on the Web
Republican leaders normally have had to work with Democrats to keep the government funded by crafting measures both sides can support because a handful of conservative fiscal hawks object on principle to stopgap spending bills.
—
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025
Some legislators over the years have voted against every specialty plate on principle.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 22 Feb. 2025
But on principle, the bacon-and-sweets craze has gone too far.
—Kathryn Varn, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Yet the clinic would benefit greatly from such a large donation and wouldn’t thank us for turning down the hospital’s money on principle.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
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Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025
Some legislators over the years have voted against every specialty plate on principle.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 22 Feb. 2025
But on principle, the bacon-and-sweets craze has gone too far.
—Kathryn Varn, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Yet the clinic would benefit greatly from such a large donation and wouldn’t thank us for turning down the hospital’s money on principle.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on principle
Cite this Entry
“On principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20principle. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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