VENALITY Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

venality

noun

Definition of venality

as in shamelessness

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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 venality The same amount of venality and virtue exists today as did back then, and so human nature just doesn’t change. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 July 2026 The once-vaunted values of public life are now reduced to the lower standards of private life—venality, vulgarity, rudeness, incontinence, and ignorance. — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 Advertisement This is not the first time that Milei, who rose to power in part with attacks on the venality of Argentina’s elite, has been tarred with corruption accusations. — Ian Bremmer, Time, 10 Oct. 2025 Humor savors an infirmity — a foible, a failing, a venality, a flaw. — Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025 Somehow, the upper hand never lingers long with Sally and Barnaby, drolly played by Gunning and Corden as a conniving Tweedledee and Tweedledum, loyal to no one and convinced their venality is justified by their father’s history of terrible parenting. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025 The New Yorker’s Talk writer was similarly blinkered and callous, treating Grey like a consenting partner and Chaplin as a dual victim, of his mother-in-law’s venality and of Middle America’s moral prejudices. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for venality

Noun

The lucrative example paved the way for more than two decades of musical theater shamelessness.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
The world has gotten a glimpse of the fawning, skeezy shamelessness of his famous hangers-on, but not enough to criminally implicate them.

— Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026

Definition of shamelessness

Noun

Davinson Sanchez — Colombia/Galatasaray (-5) Sanchez helped keep out a relatively limited Swiss attack to ensure that Colombia made it to penalties despite their profligacy in front of goal.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Such profligacy slows real income growth, deters hiring, discourages innovation and drives up interest rates.

— Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026

Definition of profligacy

Noun

As a tail-risk hedge — specifically against financial system stress, currency debasement, and geopolitical crisis — gold's track record is stronger and more consistent.

— Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Bitcoin offers growth potential tied to adoption Like gold, Bitcoin is often viewed as a hedge against currency debasement because its supply is limited.

— Sharon Wu, USA Today, 2 June 2026

Definition of debasement

Noun

His priorities include stopping corruption in Congress, making housing more affordable, protecting public lands, defending the Second Amendment and strengthening public schools, according to his website.

— Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026
For years, Deborah Witzburg sounded the loudest alarm when uncovering hundreds of cases of corruption and fraud inside Chicago city government.

— Chris Tye, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Definition of corruption

Noun

Wrapped in a rich, swirling burl wood veneer with a high-gloss finish accented with bold, oversized circular brass pulls, its vibe is very disco-era decadence.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 July 2026
The trailer suggests that she’s been swept up in Hollywood’s decadence, led astray following her breakthrough role.

— Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2026

Definition of decadence

Noun

Desertification is the severe degradation of fertile drylands into unproductive, desert-like terrain, stripping the soil of its vegetation, nutrients, and agricultural capability.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026
That looks much closer to the conditions under of the hallucination and reasoning-degradation studies.

— Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of degradation

Noun

Speaking to the Freedom Fighters club in Arlington July 1, Hall said moral degeneracy, discipline issues and low literacy rates are products of removing the Bible from classrooms.

— Rachel Royster. Produced with AI assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026
The team found that a near-infrared resolving power of at least 40 is the minimum needed to break that degeneracy.

— Paul Sutter, Space.com, 10 June 2026

Definition of degeneracy

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venal

venality

vend

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“Venality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venality. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of venality

noun

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