venal
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The party has long grappled with venal insiders—including antigraft inspectors—who leak secrets about corruption probes in return for bribes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
An agitated Jean finds herself praying to none other than Monica Lewinsky, the patron saint of bad romantic choices, or as Langbein puts it, “of those who suffer venal public shaming and patriarchal cruelty.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026
Network, from 1976, cast him as a venal television producer.
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2026
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention were desperate to protect their young nation against venal officeholders, discussing fears of corruption so frequently that James Madison made a special note of their preoccupation with the subject.
From Slate ● May 12, 2025
To counter the sordid image created by Burns and the old school of venal detectives, Hoover adopted the approach of Progressive thinkers who advocated for ruthlessly efficient systems of management.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Vocabulary lists containing venal
30 GRE Words Beginning with "T" "U" "V" and "W"
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "V"
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Commonly Confused Words, List 4
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