| Adj. | 1. | principled - based on or manifesting objectively defined standards of rightness or morality; "principled pragmatism and unprincipled expediency"; "a principled person" scrupulous - having scruples; arising from a sense of right and wrong; principled; "less scrupulous producers sent bundles that were deceptive in appearance" unprincipled - lacking principles or moral scruples; "freedom from coarse unprincipled calumny"- A.E.Stevenson |