as in corruptible
open to improper influence and especially bribery
that judge is known for being venal and easily bought
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of venal
Often in host countries with poor governance a gray economy emerges where undocumented migrants must bribe venal officials for documentation to live or work.
—
Charlie Campbell, Time, 1 Aug. 2025
Fort Lauderdale Commissioner John Herbst is right to be outraged with Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioner Steve Glassman for their venal appeasement of the Beckham Group and concession of city land at Fort Lauderdale Stadium at the cost of our park in District 1.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 2025
Prigozhin would blame Russian military command for not passing on warnings, but the fault just as likely lay inward; his outfit was as venal and shot through with corruption as his master’s regime.
—Nicolas Niarchos, New York Times, 13 May 2025
He was concerned with how a great power handles multiple internal crises—the faltering of the institutions of domestic order, the craftiness of unmoored and venal politicians, the first tremors of systemic illegitimacy.
—Charles King, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2020
See All Example Sentences for venal
Charlie Campbell, Time, 1 Aug. 2025
Fort Lauderdale Commissioner John Herbst is right to be outraged with Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioner Steve Glassman for their venal appeasement of the Beckham Group and concession of city land at Fort Lauderdale Stadium at the cost of our park in District 1.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 2025
Prigozhin would blame Russian military command for not passing on warnings, but the fault just as likely lay inward; his outfit was as venal and shot through with corruption as his master’s regime.
—Nicolas Niarchos, New York Times, 13 May 2025
He was concerned with how a great power handles multiple internal crises—the faltering of the institutions of domestic order, the craftiness of unmoored and venal politicians, the first tremors of systemic illegitimacy.
—Charles King, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2020
See All Example Sentences for venal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for venal
Adjective
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Iran prefers weak allies over strong ones, and corrupt and corruptible governments over ones that respond to their citizens’ needs.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The story of corrupt small-town cops taking on a former Marine was written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier and stars Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson and AnnaSophia Robb.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Delegates and party leaders described it as a corrupt and hypocritical maneuver from the governor.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Venal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venal. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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