as in corruptible
open to improper influence and especially bribery
that judge is known for being venal and easily bought
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Recent Examples of venal
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
They have also been undermined by myopic or venal leaders who have no interest in long-term global issues and refuse to take the problem seriously.
—William Nordhaus, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2020
See All Example Sentences for venal
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
They have also been undermined by myopic or venal leaders who have no interest in long-term global issues and refuse to take the problem seriously.
—William Nordhaus, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2020
See All Example Sentences for venal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for venal
corrupt
Adjective
-
After decades when Ukraine was seen as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, cleaning up its government has been held up as the most important condition for Kyiv to join the European Union and integrate more broadly with the West.—
Olena Harmash,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
-
Lunn’s brand of reform disrupted the corrupt and complacent, empowered talent without regard to political allegiance, and relentlessly focused on the common good of his constituents.—
Time,
Time,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Venal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venal. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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