adjective

venal

/ˈviːnəl/ · say it: VEE·nuhl

open to bribery; corrupt

In From the Opinion Pages

In more detail

1. (adjective) willing to do something dishonest in exchange for money; corrupt

2. (adjective) able to be bought or influenced by money

Examples

1. The venal officials accepted bribes from wealthy businessmen.
2. His venal nature meant he would compromise his principles for profit.

How to use venal

Venal describes someone willing to compromise their integrity for financial gain, carrying a strong moral judgment about corruption. It is more formal and literary than simple 'corrupt' or 'dishonest,' often used in political or institutional contexts to emphasize the systematic nature of bribery or self-interest. The word typically applies to individuals in positions of authority or power.

Common phrases

venal politician
venal official
venal corruption
venal interests
venal motives

Synonyms

corrupt · mercenary · bribable · dishonest · unprincipled

Opposites

honest · incorruptible · principled

Word family

venality (noun) · venally (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse venal (purchasable through bribery) with venial (forgivable, as in venial sin), which are unrelated words with different pronunciations and meanings.

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