venal

[ veen-l ]

See synonyms for venal on Thesaurus.com

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.

Origin of venal

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

synonym study For venal

1. See corrupt.

Other words for venal

1	bribable, corruptible

See synonyms for venal on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for venal

1	incorruptible

See antonyms for venal on Thesaurus.com

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 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE DAILY BEAST

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 Porter
And there was abundant occasion: municipal affairs were corrupt, courts weak or venal, or both.
The Letters of Ambrose Bierce | Ambrose Bierce
The youth had imbibed the venal corruption everywhere prevalent.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 3 of 8 | Various
In racing and gambling they found their excitement; their consolation was the venal love of a ballet dancer.
Vie de Bohme | Orlo Williams
He 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

venal

/ (ˈviːnəl) /

adjective

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

C17: from Latin vēnālis, from vēnum sale

Derived 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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