as in corruptible
open to improper influence and especially bribery
that judge is known for being venal and easily bought
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
In his two most self-consciously political novels, The Secret Agent, about anarchists in London, and Under Western Eyes, about Russian revolutionaries in St. Petersburg and Geneva, almost all the characters are venal or hopelessly naive.
—Adam Hochschild, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018
The anti-hero of his book is Sammy Glick, a venal go-getter who leapfrogs from copy boy to agent to producer by stealing credit and backstabbing friends.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2025
They are easily shot down by venal lobbyists, conformist consultants, cynical national diplomats, and, in a deliciously Machiavellian scene, a suave official sitting atop the European Commission.
—Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for venal
Nicolas Niarchos, New York Times, 13 May 2025
In his two most self-consciously political novels, The Secret Agent, about anarchists in London, and Under Western Eyes, about Russian revolutionaries in St. Petersburg and Geneva, almost all the characters are venal or hopelessly naive.
—Adam Hochschild, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018
The anti-hero of his book is Sammy Glick, a venal go-getter who leapfrogs from copy boy to agent to producer by stealing credit and backstabbing friends.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2025
They are easily shot down by venal lobbyists, conformist consultants, cynical national diplomats, and, in a deliciously Machiavellian scene, a suave official sitting atop the European Commission.
—Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for venal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for venal
corrupt
Adjective
-
But these are only the 'official' statistics released by corrupt City Officials.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
-
The Boys, a satirical drama about vigilantes who set out to take down corrupt superheroes, is gearing up for the release of its fifth and final season, expected sometime in 2026 on Prime Video.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Venal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venal. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share