If you describe someone as venal, you disapprove of them because they are prepared to do almost anything in return for money, even things which are dishonest or immoral.
[disapproval]
Government propaganda made the radicals appear at best deluded, at worst venal.
...venal politicians.
Synonyms: corrupt, bent [slang], crooked [informal], prostituted [old-fashioned, derogatory] More Synonyms of venal
venal in British English
(ˈviːnəl)
adjective
1.
easily bribed or corrupted; mercenary
a venal magistrate
2.
characterized by corruption
a venal civilization
3.
open to purchase, esp by bribery
a venal contract
Derived forms
venality (viːˈnælɪtɪ)
noun
venally (ˈvenally)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Latin vēnālis, from vēnum sale
venal in American English
(ˈvinəl)
adjective
1. Rare
capable of being obtained for a price
venal services
2.
that can readily be bribed or corrupted
a venal judge
3.
characterized by bribery or corruption
a venal bargain
Derived forms
venally (ˈvenally)
adverb
Word origin
L venalis, salable, for sale < *venus, sale < IE *wesno-, price > Sans vasná-, price, payment, Gr ōnos, price
Examples of 'venal' in a sentence
venal
Once again they look greedy, venal and out of touch.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They're venal and corrupt and must be stopped.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Some of the arguments put forward by the venal and greedy MPs as having acted within the law have been ludicrous.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Those battling to win seats in the election tomorrow are viewed as more venal, corrupt and conniving than any fantasy TV we watch.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
(adjective)
Definition
willing to accept bribes in return for acting dishonestly
venal and totally corrupt politicians
Synonyms
corrupt
corrupt politicians who took bribes
bent (slang)
a bent accountant
crooked (informal)
She might expose his crooked business deals to the authorities.
prostituted (old-fashioned, derogatory)
grafting (informal)
mercenary
The mercenary soldier is not a valued creature.
sordid
rapacious
unprincipled
the unprincipled behaviour of the prosecutor's office
dishonourable
He insisted he had done nothing dishonourable.
corruptible
purchasable
Opposites
principled
,
upright
,
honourable
,
honest
,
law-abiding
,
incorruptible
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bent
Definition
dishonest
a bent accountant
Synonyms
corrupt,
crooked (informal),
rotten,
shady (informal),
fraudulent,
dishonest,
unscrupulous,
unethical,
venal,
unprincipled,
bribable
in the sense of crooked
Definition
dishonest or illegal
She might expose his crooked business deals to the authorities.
Synonyms
dishonest,
criminal,
illegal,
corrupt,
dubious,
questionable,
unlawful,
shady (informal),
fraudulent,
unscrupulous,
under-the-table,
bent (slang),
shifty,
deceitful,
underhand,
unprincipled,
dishonourable,
nefarious,
knavish (archaic)
in the sense of dishonourable
He insisted he had done nothing dishonourable.
Synonyms
shameful,
base,
corrupt,
infamous,
disgraceful,
treacherous,
scandalous,
unscrupulous,
shameless,
despicable,
ignominious,
disreputable,
contemptible,
untrustworthy,
unprincipled,
ignoble,
not cricket (informal),
discreditable,
blackguardly
Nearby words of
venal
vein
velocity
velvety
venal
vendetta
vendor
veneer
Synonyms of 'venal'
venal
Explore 'venal' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of mercenary
Definition
of or relating to a mercenary or mercenaries
The mercenary soldier is not a valued creature.
Synonyms
hired,
paid,
bought,
venal
in the sense of sordid
Definition
involving immoral and selfish behaviour
Synonyms
mercenary,
grasping,
corrupt,
selfish,
venal,
miserly,
self-seeking,
avaricious,
niggardly,
ungenerous,
covetous
in the sense of unprincipled
Definition
lacking moral principles
the unprincipled behaviour of the prosecutor's office