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
Sassoon and other prosecutors in New York and D.C. resigned on principle rather than go along with the corrupt plot orchestrated by Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, Trump’s former personal criminal defense lawyer in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
All House Republicans except for Kentucky’s Rep. Thomas Massie supported the bill, including several fiscal budget hawks who usually oppose stopgap spending bills on principle.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for on principle
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.
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
All House Republicans except for Kentucky’s Rep. Thomas Massie supported the bill, including several fiscal budget hawks who usually oppose stopgap spending bills on principle.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
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
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 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share