Principled — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəld/ prin·ci·pled

Meaning & Definition of Principled

Principled (adjective)

  1. exhibiting, based on, or characterized by principle —often used in combination

Principled (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. following the accepted rules of moral conduct

    "a high-principled art expert who always told clients what he honestly thought their items were worth"

    similar: decent, ethical, honest, honorable, just, noble, respectable, righteous, stand-up, upright, upstanding
    related: blameless, guiltless, irreproachable, unassailable, unimpeachable, chivalrous, classy, high-minded, menschy, right-minded, conscientious, fair, good, incorruptible, moral, reputable, respected, scrupulous, uncorrupted, virtuous, decorous, nice, polite, proper, seemly
    opposite: base, dishonest, dishonorable, ignoble, low, unethical, unjust, unprincipled, unrighteous, unworthy
    near: bad, blackguardly, corrupt, criminal, crooked, evil, immoral, iniquitous, knavish, mean, nefarious, rascally, reprehensible, roguish, rotten, scoundrelly, sinful, unfair, unscrupulous, vile, villainous, wicked, wretched, blamable, blameworthy, censurable, culpable, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, disgraceful, disreputable, dissipated, dissolute, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, profligate, reprobate, shameful, venal

  2. 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"

    similar: conscientious, conscionable, ethical, honest, honorable, just, moral, scrupulous
    related: decent, good, righteous, right-minded, straight, upright, virtuous, dutiful, observant, respectful, overconscientious, reliable, responsible, solid, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy, trusty, esteemed, law-abiding, reputable, respected, upstanding, worthy
    opposite: cutthroat, dishonest, dishonorable, immoral, unconscionable, unethical, unjust, unprincipled, unscrupulous
    near: bad, evil, evil-minded, immoral, indecent, sinful, unrighteous, wicked, unreliable, untrustworthy, corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, perverted, reprobate, atrocious, infamous, villainous, base, low, mean, vicious, vile, iniquitous, nefarious

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Principled

The most common words with a similar meaning to Principled:

decent, ethical, honest, honorable, just, noble, respectable, righteous, stand-up, upright, upstanding, conscientious, conscionable, moral, scrupulous

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Principled

Words with the opposite meaning of Principled:

base, dishonest, dishonorable, ignoble, low, unethical, unjust, unprincipled, unrighteous, unworthy, cutthroat, immoral, unconscionable, unscrupulous

Related Words for Principled

blameless, guiltless, irreproachable, unassailable, unimpeachable, chivalrous, classy, high-minded, menschy, right-minded, fair, good, incorruptible, reputable, respected, uncorrupted, virtuous, decorous, nice, polite, proper, seemly, straight, dutiful, observant, respectful, overconscientious, reliable, responsible, solid

Near Antonyms of Principled

bad, blackguardly, corrupt, criminal, crooked, evil, iniquitous, knavish, mean, nefarious, rascally, reprehensible, roguish, rotten, scoundrelly, sinful, unfair, vile, villainous, wicked, wretched, blamable, blameworthy, censurable, culpable, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded

Origin & Etymology of Principled

First known use: 1635

Frequently Asked Questions about Principled

What does "Principled" mean?

"Principled" means exhibiting, based on, or characterized by principle —often used in combination. As an adjective, it is defined as: exhibiting, based on, or characterized by principle —often used in combination. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Principled"?

Other words for "Principled" include decent, ethical, honest, honorable, just, noble, respectable and righteous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Principled" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Principled"?

There are 52 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Principled". Common alternatives include decent, ethical, honest, honorable, just, noble, respectable, righteous, stand-up and upright.

What is the opposite of "Principled"?

Antonyms of "Principled" include base, dishonest, dishonorable, ignoble, low, unethical, unjust and unprincipled. Near antonyms include bad, blackguardly, corrupt and criminal.

How do you use "Principled" in a sentence?

Examples of "Principled" in a sentence: "a high-principled art expert who always told clients what he honestly thought their items were worth"; "a politician widely respected for her principled behavior in every office she ever held".

Is "Principled" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Principled" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Principled"?

"Principled" is pronounced /ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəld/ and divided into syllables as prin·ci·pled.

What is the origin of the word "Principled"?

First known use: 1635.