principled

adjective

ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəld How to pronounce principled (audio)
Definition of principlednext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of principled That tension — broad adoption alongside persistent, principled caution — is exactly what athenahealth’s AI on the Frontlines of Care research reflects. — Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Sadly, the science of monetary policy and other workhorses of monetary policy (The Phillips Curve), economic forecasting even appear to be unhelpful in Warsh's first principled approach. — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 22 July 2026 Sanctions prevent principled firms from being undercut by opportunistic competitors. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 July 2026 Anne and Abel rarely brought up the past with Michael and Robby, but when Ethel and Julius did come up, the Meeropols reinforced their sons’ impression of them as brave, principled people who had been wrongly executed. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for principled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principled
  1. honorable
  2. ethical
  3. honest
  4. moral
  5. respectable
  6. conscientious
Adjective
  • Initially receiving a general discharge, Matlovich’s status was later elevated to honorable.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • From Prime Minister Mark Carney’s standpoint, Canada had no honorable alternative.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of honorable
Adjective
  • Modern interpreters have read his 10 heads as signifying his vast knowledge of 10 sacred texts, or alternately his 10 ethical failings, but the Ramayana account describes him as 10-headed from birth.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Talarico is hoping to raise further ethical questions about Paxton by publicizing the Unity Resources case.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of ethical
Adjective
  • April 20 – May 20 A plan with friends may work better with a little honest adjusting.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Taurus April 20 – May 20 A plan with friends may work better with a little honest adjusting.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • The psychological thriller, which Zeller wrote, produced and directed, follows the emotional and moral challenges faced by a couple in an increasingly uncertain world.
    — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
  • His words were interpreted as a kind of political and moral mission spurred by his son’s death.
    — Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of moral
Adjective
  • That's a respectable amount of performance for something under $1,500.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Since being picked in the second round by Indiana in 2016, Niang has carved out a respectable nine-year career spread across four different teams.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of respectable
Adjective
  • This focus on elevated yet conscientious materials is reflected in designers’ latest choices.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Less so is the fact that more vulnerabilities are being discovered by bounty hunters assisted by AI tools, leaving Google fighting a battle to patch them before less conscientious hackers find them and put them to criminal use.
    — Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of conscientious

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principled
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Cite this Entry

“Principled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principled. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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