venality

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.

Venality does have a high public profile in today’s art world, but it has only a modest presence in the day-to-day life of art.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2019

Venality, vanity and idiocy rule in our times, but judging from the amusing caricature show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we’re no worse than past eras.

From BusinessWeek • Sep. 30, 2011

Venality had always been the besetting sin of Greek statesmen.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 4 "Grasshopper" to "Greek Language" by Various

Venality and deception meeting with so much encouragement, those propensities of the human heart would be generated and fostered, which at length produced flagrant impositions, and the greatest enormities.

From A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & Present State of the Gypsies by Hoyland, John

Venality sculks no longer in the dark, but snatches the bribe in publick; and prostitution issues forth without shame, glittering with the ornaments of successful wickedness.

From The Works of Samuel Johnson, Volume 05 Miscellaneous Pieces by Johnson, Samuel