venal
[veen-l]
- 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.
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Origin of venal
Synonyms
See more synonyms for venal on Thesaurus.com1. bribable, corruptible.
Synonym study
1. See corrupt.
Antonyms
1. incorruptible.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for venal
Contemporary Examples
Only someone working for the “Venal Perverted West” would question it.
For there to be any chance, all parties have to stop the venal and viral vitriol.
Decadent, venal, ineffective, stratified, anxiety-ridden, stumbling from one declared crisis to the next—who wants that?
On the Daily Show, Gates piled on, calling Congress “venal and small.”
Rep. David Price Remembers When a Less Partisan Congress Actually WorkedEleanor Clift
January 26, 2014
The stereotypical congressperson is venal, petty, self-interested, and oblivious to the consequences of his or her actions.
Historical Examples
The fate of the children of venal concubines is generally very sad.
The Sexual QuestionAugust Forel
They were so venal, too, that they aided the enemy rather than us by their movements.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, CompleteDuc de Saint-Simon
And the venal English press which conceals the fact, what shall be said of it?
Ireland as It IsRobert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)
This man was the Tweed of Mexico, and one of the most venal officials ever trusted by the people.
Aztec LandMaturin M. Ballou
Yet then did Gildon draw his venal quill;— I wished the man a dinner, and sat still.
Essay on ManAlexander Pope
venal
- easily bribed or corrupted; mercenarya venal magistrate
- characterized by corruptiona venal civilization
- open to purchase, esp by briberya venal contract
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Word Origin
C17: from Latin vēnālis, from vēnum sale
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for venal
adj.
1650s, "offered for sale, capable of being obtained for a price," from French vénal, from Latin venalis "that is for sale," from venum (nominative *venus) "for sale," from PIE root *wes- "to buy, sell" (cf. Sanskrit vasnah "purchase money," vasnam "reward," vasnayati "he bargains, haggles;" Greek onos "price paid, purchase," oneisthai "to buy").
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper