as in principle
formal
a statement by an authority of how people should behave
the moral precepts of a religion
Related Words
Relevance
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 precept
To be clear, Smith, as a brain-dead patient, was legally and medically deceased, so precepts about doing good and avoiding harm would not have applied to her, at least clinically speaking.
—
Christine Henneberg, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
Pavlov’s comments reflect a longstanding aspiration of the field of psychology to ascertain and verify bona fide means to augment the subjective aspects of mental health analysis with more exacting objective measures and precepts.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Saudi Arabia’s judicial system is based on an interpretation of Sharia law, a broad set of laws and precepts that aim to guide or govern the daily lives of Muslim people.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 16 May 2025
That idea is anathema to many neuroscientists for whom a fundamental precept is that consciousness arises from the brain.
—Maggie Astor, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for precept
Christine Henneberg, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
Pavlov’s comments reflect a longstanding aspiration of the field of psychology to ascertain and verify bona fide means to augment the subjective aspects of mental health analysis with more exacting objective measures and precepts.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Saudi Arabia’s judicial system is based on an interpretation of Sharia law, a broad set of laws and precepts that aim to guide or govern the daily lives of Muslim people.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 16 May 2025
That idea is anathema to many neuroscientists for whom a fundamental precept is that consciousness arises from the brain.
—Maggie Astor, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for precept
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precept
Noun
-
That country has agreed in principle to a 40% tariff on any goods that flow across its borders from China, which has happened with increasing frequency as the United States has ramped up barriers to goods coming from China directly.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
9 July 2025
-
Working to apply this precise principle across his firm’s estate of technologies is Raghu Malpani in his role as chief technology officer at agentic automation company UiPath.—
Adrian Bridgwater,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Start your new sportsbook account the right way with the BetMGM bonus code NW150.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 July 2025
-
Suburban-style zoning has become widespread not just in suburbs proper, but also in core cities, many of which have adopted similar zoning codes that would have made their original growth and housing diversity impossible.—
Marina Bolotnikova,
Vox,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
To prove those true statements, mathematicians would have to add a new axiom.—
Gregory Barber,
Quanta Magazine,
20 June 2025
-
In his first inaugural address in 1933, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid out a political axiom that would come to shrewdly diagnose America's thorny brand of insularity.—
Clare Morell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
Around the country, state lawmakers are twisting tax codes, raiding campus funds and rewriting financial rules to keep their flagship programs competitive.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 July 2025
-
The rules on how the league decides on replacements are not public.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
Take this Dior set, with a serum, cream, and lotion packed away in a plush travel bag—a $219 value for just $160!—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
12 July 2025
-
Stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a constant value, usually a 1:1 dollar peg, are commonly used by crypto traders to move funds between tokens.—
Niket Nishant,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
Kennedy’s views of individual ingredients oscillate between commonsense dietary maxims and conspiratorial musings.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
23 June 2025
-
The maxim for so long in international trade has been to remove all sand from the gears.—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
The House passed the Senate version of the BBB on July 3; President Trump signed the bill into law on July 4th.—
Martin Shenkman,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
-
Nowhere is this truer than Wimbledon, which has always been a law unto itself. — Caoimhe O’Neill contributed reporting.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
That’s why much of my work in professional sports focuses on teaching the fundamentals of breathing biomechanics.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
4 July 2025
-
Over time, investors will likely realize that fundamentals are underperforming market demand here and that, when compared to SPXX’s 7.6% yield and PDI’s 14% payout, both funds are better contenders than GLO to deliver strong total returns alongside a rotation back into America.—
Michael Foster,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precept. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share