venal

adjective

ˈvē-nᵊl How to pronounce venal (audio)
Definition of venalnext
as in corruptible
open to improper influence and especially bribery that judge is known for being venal and easily bought

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of venal That landslide victory was galvanized by deadly street protests in the fall led by a Gen Z determined to purge a political old guard perceived as venal and out of touch. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Apr. 2026 Bill Nighy plays a venal spycraft master who also is surprisingly good at computer coding. — Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 2026 Even though a lot of what happens in the book borders on the ridiculous because of the behavior of narcissistic selfish venal individuals. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 26 Dec. 2025 One argued that what Janis took to be a herd mentality might just as well be seen as deliberate, venal compliance. — David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for venal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for venal
  1. corruptible
  2. corrupt
Adjective
  • Trump has tried to curtail mail-in voting by arguing the ballots easily corruptible, despite casting a ballot by mail himself in March.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • Beef’s whole thing is finding the weak, corruptible center of all its characters, and Isaac jumps into that project with enthusiasm.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 May 2026
Definition of corruptible
Adjective
  • And Alice’s superior, FBI agent Nora Washington (Quincy Tyler Bernstine), realizes that her corrupt boss Ed George (Danny McCarthy), who was covering up Easton’s crimes, will retain his ASAC position at the FBI.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • That strategy allowed the Kremlin to publicly deny the existence of political repression while portraying the opposition as inherently corrupt.
    — Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of corrupt

Browse Nearby Words

velvety
venal
venality
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Cite this Entry

“Venal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venal. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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