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
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.
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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
But on principle, the bacon-and-sweets craze has gone too far.
—Kathryn Varn, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
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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
But on principle, the bacon-and-sweets craze has gone too far.
—Kathryn Varn, Axios, 11 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 28 Mar. 2025.
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