venal
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.
Origin of venal
1synonym study For venal
Other words for venal
Opposites for venal
Other words from venal
- ve·nal·ly, adverb
- non·ve·nal, adjective
- non·ve·nal·ly, adverb
- un·ve·nal, adjective
Words that may be confused with venal
- venal , venial
Words Nearby venal
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use venal in a sentence
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 | THE DAILY BEASTFor 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 Worked | Eleanor Clift | January 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe stereotypical congressperson is venal, petty, self-interested, and oblivious to the consequences of his or her actions.
His largesses were abundant, and the uproar of vehement thanksgiving, was ever on the watch from the venal multitude.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterAnd there was abundant occasion: municipal affairs were corrupt, courts weak or venal, or both.
The Letters of Ambrose Bierce | Ambrose BierceThe youth had imbibed the venal corruption everywhere prevalent.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 3 of 8 | VariousIn racing and gambling they found their excitement; their consolation was the venal love of a ballet dancer.
Vie de Bohme | Orlo WilliamsHe seems to have been sent to instruct and guide legislators in a venal and corrupt age.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume IX | John Lord
British Dictionary definitions for venal
/ (ˈviːnəl) /
easily bribed or corrupted; mercenary: a venal magistrate
characterized by corruption: a venal civilization
open to purchase, esp by bribery: a venal contract
Origin of venal
1Derived forms of venal
- venality (viːˈnælɪtɪ), noun
- venally, adverb
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
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