Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

venal

[veen-l] / ˈvin l /


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.

See Examples For:

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

We shouldn’t discount the venal draw of a show like this, which is that plenty of Gibson’s followers probably still believe in her, although they might not admit it openly.

From Salon Feb. 7, 2025

There was something venal about his thin-lipped face; he had the air of a man to whom corruption was familiar.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie




Vocabulary lists containing venal


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training