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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of principled
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
Not everyone can afford to take a principled stand.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 4 May 2026
This suggests some latent, principled discomfort among GOP voters.
—Daniel A. Smith, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for principled
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
Not everyone can afford to take a principled stand.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 4 May 2026
This suggests some latent, principled discomfort among GOP voters.
—Daniel A. Smith, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for principled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principled
Adjective
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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
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There is something defiant and honorable about owning 100% of my business, given my cultural background.—
Monique Kelley,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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In an era of generative AI, climate instability, and rapid technological acceleration, Panetta believes engineers must be adaptable, ethical, creative, and brave enough to take risks.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
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Moreover, scientists took the cells without the patient’s consent, raising serious ethical questions.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Connection improves when curiosity gives both people more room to be honest without forcing agreement today.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
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One honest budget check can keep the idea useful instead of impulsive.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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Criteria for selection included capacity for leadership, ethical and moral character along with academic competence.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
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Traditionally written as letters to Catholic bishops and the wider church, encyclicals offer authoritative guidance on major moral, social, or political questions and often shape Catholic thought for generations, even influencing debates that reach far beyond the Vatican.—
Nandika Chatterjee,
Time,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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But the clock on the 2026 season is ticking with training camp is two months away, and Malik Willis and this cast of journeymen and rookie receivers need to speed up their process if the Dolphins plan to have a respectable offense.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
27 May 2026
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That’s a respectable, but still underwhelming by their standards, number of two-baggers.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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Initially it was sold only online and through a network of 5,000 influential—and conscientious—hair salons.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
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Or a group of high-minded, dutiful, quite-conscientious California voters?—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Principled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principled. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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