doctrine

noun

ˈdäk-trən How to pronounce doctrine (audio)
Definition of doctrinenext
1
as in theology
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 ideology
the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group the doctrine of quantum physicists

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 doctrine Instead, American doctrine was based on credibly threatening nuclear retaliation. — Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Long before the official ban on private farming was lifted in 1982, peasants across China spontaneously reintroduced private ownership in defiance of socialist doctrine. — Rainer Zitelmann, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Skinner pleaded guilty under the Alford doctrine to health insurance fraud. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026 Catholic doctrine holds that Mary’s virginity was preserved before, during, and after childbirth. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for doctrine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doctrine
  1. theology
  2. ideology
  3. principle
  4. philosophy
  5. dogma
Noun
  • Paxton's stump speeches routinely allege Talarico's liberal theology doesn't reflect Scripture.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Sullivan said schools of theology are particularly good places to study the ethics of AI.
    — Yonat Shimron, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of theology
Noun
  • In a country increasingly divided along political ideologies, partisan politics are coming together to answer the age old dynamic between privacy and security.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This week, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly declared his opposition to the event, labeling RSS ideology as exclusionary and contrary to the pluralistic views of the city.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of ideology
Noun
  • The episode highlights the dangers of placing party loyalty above principle and calls for an electoral system that gives voters greater choice, rewards compromise and strengthens representative democracy.
    — Kevin Richardson, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Critics say its removal contradicts the program’s founding mission and longstanding curatorial principles.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of principle
Noun
  • Thus polytheistic worship of deities and monist philosophy are not opposed but rather different ways of reaching the divine.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • For three decades, in an increasingly noisy and stress-filled world, Miraval Arizona has embraced its philosophy of Life in Balance, pioneering the concept of transformative wellbeing through mindfulness.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of philosophy
Noun
  • But to me, especially at that time, newly estranged from faith, skeptical of religious dogma, but still steeped in the values and sensibilities of my Christian upbringing, the entire performance felt deeply offensive.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The dogma has it that what California is doing today, the rest of the United States will be doing tomorrow; and, of course, whatever the United States is doing tomorrow, the whole world will be doing the day after.
    — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 14 July 2026
Definition of dogma

Browse Nearby Words

doctrinal
doctrine
doctrines
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Cite this Entry

“Doctrine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doctrine. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on doctrine

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about doctrine

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