1
as in theologies
a statement or body of statements concerning faith or morals proclaimed by a church
the Catholic Church's doctrine on the Eucharist
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ideologies
the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group
the doctrine of quantum physicists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of doctrines
Those in support of the bill argue that the Bible's teachings informed the nation's core doctrines, and that the Ten Commandments offer needed moral reinforcement for schoolchildren.
—
Cate Charron, IndyStar, 27 Jan. 2026
Legal challenges to constitutional doctrines underpinning the modern American administrative state wend their way through increasingly sympathetic courts, promising sweeping changes to the ways our most important institutions act.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
The larger point here is that the new justice and the governor are strong advocates of literalism and originalism — legal doctrines holding that constitutions and laws should be read precisely as the authors wrote and understood them.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
What Structural Integration Would Look Like The good news is that avoiding that outcome does not require sweeping new doctrines.
—Robert Ginsburg, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
The hysteria about a superior race, the insistence that all would be well if one insidious group was purged—those doctrines had been entirely defeated.
—Joan Silber, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025
Fundamental philosophical and religious doctrines emerged in China, India, and the Middle East, along with Greece.
—Big Think, 16 Nov. 2025
The Fed chair’s grounding in history liberated him from rigid doctrines and encouraged innovative policymaking.
—John T. Shaw, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
To operate effectively, coalition forces need joint doctrines, training cycles, and logistics systems.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Cate Charron, IndyStar, 27 Jan. 2026
Legal challenges to constitutional doctrines underpinning the modern American administrative state wend their way through increasingly sympathetic courts, promising sweeping changes to the ways our most important institutions act.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
The larger point here is that the new justice and the governor are strong advocates of literalism and originalism — legal doctrines holding that constitutions and laws should be read precisely as the authors wrote and understood them.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
What Structural Integration Would Look Like The good news is that avoiding that outcome does not require sweeping new doctrines.
—Robert Ginsburg, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
The hysteria about a superior race, the insistence that all would be well if one insidious group was purged—those doctrines had been entirely defeated.
—Joan Silber, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025
Fundamental philosophical and religious doctrines emerged in China, India, and the Middle East, along with Greece.
—Big Think, 16 Nov. 2025
The Fed chair’s grounding in history liberated him from rigid doctrines and encouraged innovative policymaking.
—John T. Shaw, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
To operate effectively, coalition forces need joint doctrines, training cycles, and logistics systems.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doctrines
Noun
-
If there’s a genuine, committed, energetic movement to evolve these theologies, there are huge opportunities.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Their similarities extend to much of their ideologies as well.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
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The 90-minute play follows a young Tony trying to navigate the awkward time between being a kid and being a teenager all while growing up surrounded different ideologies.—
Carolina del Busto,
Miami Herald,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While they were aligned on (mostly) monochromatic looks, the sisters had different dogmas about their bags.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
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There’s a common, but untrue, narrative that certain sets of scientific dogmas, like the Earth being stationary and the center of the Universe, could not be challenged.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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My sense is that the reason for this disconnect—the loss of power that faith traditions and philosophies once had to influence progressive movements—is that so much of it is digital now.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
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While each have different aesthetics and philosophies, these firms are focused on creating spaces that reflect the lifestyles and personalities of their clients.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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All denominations across all creeds, all colors.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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High-profile stars and politicians of all creeds have been up in arms and ABC owner Disney has come in for particularly stern criticism over the very live situation.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Frederick battled intermittent despair and sought solace in Swedenborgianism and other, stranger beliefs.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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Conducted in March 2025 by the research firm Burson, the survey posed a variety of questions to more than 1,800 Jewish and more than 4,100 total respondents about their relationship to Israel and Zionism, as well as about their beliefs about the definition of Zionism.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Stockholm Series reminded me that one function of canons is to create solidarity.—
Colton Valentine,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
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Both male and female idols (and the crowds) are drenched by water canons throughout the festival.—
Jae-Ha Kim,
Rolling Stone,
8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Doctrines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doctrines. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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