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View synonyms for venal

venal

[ veen-l ]

adjective

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

    a venal judge.

    Synonyms: bribable, corruptible

    Antonyms: incorruptible

  2. able to be purchased, as by a bribe:

    venal acquittals.

  3. associated with or characterized by bribery:

    a venal administration; venal agreements.



venal

/ viːˈnælɪtɪ; ˈviːnəl /

adjective

  1. easily bribed or corrupted; mercenary

    a venal magistrate

  2. characterized by corruption

    a venal civilization

  3. open to purchase, esp by bribery

    a venal contract

“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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Derived Forms

  • venality, noun
  • ˈvenally, adverb
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Other Words From

  • venal·ly adverb
  • non·venal adjective
  • non·venal·ly adverb
  • un·venal adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of venal1

1645–55; < Latin vēnālis, equivalent to vēn ( um ) (accusative) for sale ( vend ) + -ālis -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of venal1

C17: from Latin vēnālis, from vēnum sale
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Synonym Study

See corrupt.
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Example Sentences

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.”

The 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.

And there was abundant occasion: municipal affairs were corrupt, courts weak or venal, or both.

The youth had imbibed the venal corruption everywhere prevalent.

In racing and gambling they found their excitement; their consolation was the venal love of a ballet dancer.

He seems to have been sent to instruct and guide legislators in a venal and corrupt age.

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vena contractavenality