Synonyms for precept
Definitions
- n. 1
A rule or principle, especially one governing personal conduct.
Precept guides, but example draws.
- n. 2
A written command, especially a demand for payment.
Related words
- Word family
- preceptial preceptive preceptor
Forms
- Plural
- precepts → commandments, laws, doctrines, maxims…
Choose the right word
A precept relates not to belief, but to conduct.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- doctrine Tom has a doctrine of "not rocking the boat".
- maxim He worked in his favorite maxim.
- commandment They are fulfilling the commandment to host guests.
- aphorism "Time is money" is very true as an aphorism.
- principle My father made it a principle to keep early hours.
- proverb I want to know the meaning of this Berber proverb.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| precept | steady | |
| doctrine | steady | |
| maxim | steady | |
| commandment | rising | |
| aphorism | rising | |
| principle | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- law1
- 4 letters
- rule1
- 5 letters
- order2, canon2, maxim2, dogma2, edict2, adage2, axiom3
- 6 letters
- saying2, charge1, lesson2, decree2, dictum2, charre
- 7 letters
- command2, proverb2
- 8 letters
- teaching2, sentence2, doctrine2, aphorism4, apothegm
- 9 letters
- direction3, authority4, institute3, principle3, ordinance3
- 10 letters
- regulation4, injunction3, apophthegm
- 11 letters
- instruction3, commandment3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (order2 = 2 syllables).