principled stand
Ethical position taken
A principled stand is a position taken and defended because of moral conviction rather than convenience or self-interest.
The phrase implies personal cost—someone taking a principled stand typically risks something: She took a principled stand against the policy even though it meant losing her job.
The stand may be right or wrong, but it's grounded in belief rather than calculation.
- convictionFirmly held belief
- moralConcerning right conduct
- moral high groundPerceived position of righteousness
- stanceStanding posture or viewpoint
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
integrity · backbone · unwavering · courage · defiant · values · steadfast · honor · righteous · firm · walk the talk · conscience · beliefs · dignity · resolute · uncompromising · line in the sand · protest
principled standcapitulation
Complete yielding to demands
selling out · moral compromise · moral collapse · caving in · going along to get along
principled standsurrender
Cease resistance, yield
capitulation · caving · backing down · folding · giving in
principled standselling out
Abandoning principles for gain
opportunism · careerism · sycophancy · trimming one's sails · playing it safe
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