venal

[ veen-l ]

/ ˈvin l /

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adjective

willing to sell one's influence, especially in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary: a venal judge.

able to be purchased, as by a bribe: venal acquittals.

associated with or characterized by bribery: a venal administration; venal agreements.

Nearby words

vena cava, vena contracta, venacavography, venae cavernosae penis, venae rectae, venal, venality, venatic, venation, vend, venda

Origin of venal

1645–55; < Latin vēnālis, equivalent to vēn(um) (accusative) for sale (cf. vend) + -ālis -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR venal

1 bribable, corruptible.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR venal ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR venal

1 incorruptible.

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Related forms

ve·nal·ly, adverbnon·ve·nal, adjectivenon·ve·nal·ly, adverbun·ve·nal, adjective

Can be confused

venal venial

Synonym study

1. See corrupt.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for venal

Only someone working for the “Venal Perverted West” would question it.
Putin’s Dream of Empire Doesn’t Stop at Crimea, Or Even Ukraine|Oleg Shynkarenko|March 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For there to be any chance, all parties have to stop the venal and viral vitriol.
Cut the Baloney on Ukraine|Leslie H. Gelb|March 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Decadent, venal, ineffective, stratified, anxiety-ridden, stumbling from one declared crisis to the next—who wants that?
The Real Clash of Civilizations|James Poulos|March 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the Daily Show, Gates piled on, calling Congress “venal and small.”
Rep. David Price Remembers When a Less Partisan Congress Actually Worked|Eleanor Clift|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The stereotypical congressperson is venal, petty, self-interested, and oblivious to the consequences of his or her actions.
Good Riddance, Max Baucus|Jamelle Bouie|April 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
His character for pecuniary integrity placed him above the suspicion of a venal motive.
Thirty Years' View (Vol. I of 2)|Thomas Hart Benton
He wore fine clothes, gave dinners of several courses, paid court to venal beauties.
The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, Vol. 3. (of 4)|Thomas Babington Macaulay
Without dividing, he destroyed party; without corrupting, he made a venal age unanimous.
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 16|Various
The tribune Manilius, a venal soul, and the debased instrument of the ambition of others.
History of Julius Caesar Vol. 1 of 2|Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873.
The deceptions of a venal passion are more delightful than the real thing.
Cousin Betty|Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for venal

venal

/ (ˈviːnəl) /

adjective

easily bribed or corrupted; mercenarya venal magistrate

characterized by corruptiona venal civilization

open to purchase, esp by briberya venal contract

Derived Forms

venality (viːˈnælɪtɪ), nounvenally, adverb

Word Origin for venal

C17: from Latin vēnālis, from vēnum sale

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012