venal

[ veen-l ]

/ ˈvin l /

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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.

OTHER WORDS FOR venal

1 bribable, corruptible.

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OPPOSITES FOR venal

1 incorruptible.

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QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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 FROM venal

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH venal

venal , venial

Words nearby venal

velvety, ven-, vena, vena cava, vena contracta, venal, venality, venatic, venation, vend, Venda

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|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 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; mercenarya venal magistrate

characterized by corruptiona venal civilization

open to purchase, esp by briberya venal contract

Derived forms of venal

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

venal

OTHER WORDS FOR venal

OPPOSITES FOR venal

Origin of venal

synonym study for venal

OTHER WORDS FROM venal

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH venal

Words nearby venal

Words related to venal

How to use venal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for venal

Derived forms of venal

Word Origin for venal