venal
/ˈviːn(ə)l
/adjective
Showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt: local customs officers are notoriously venal their generosity had been at least partly venal...
- Leaders have offered the people little but venal, corrupt governance for decades.
- That said, of course there are many self serving, venal politicians.
- But politicians are expected to be venal and self-serving if given the chance.
Synonyms
corrupt, corruptible, bribable, open to bribery, purchasable, buyable, grafting;
dishonest, fraudulent, dishonourable, untrustworthy, unscrupulous, unprincipled;
mercenary, avaricious, grasping, rapacious
informal bent, crooked, warped, shady
rare simoniacal, simoniac
Usage
On the difference between venal and venial, see venial (usage).
Derivatives
venality
/ noun ...- Back then, the venality of the criminals was often matched by the corruption of the police.
- One after another, scandal stories have tumbled onto front pages during the past month - tales of sordid excess, gross stupidity, evil venality and troubling secrecy in high places.
- It's not like we've a shortage of venality, corruption and lust (not to mention hypocrisy) in this country.
venally
- The argument seemed so compellingly moral and just, the counter-argument so venally self-interested.
- Lately, I've been thinking a lot about history of this industry and how stupidly and/or venally it has been managed.
- Children are quite capable, I think, of appreciating when playing along is to their advantage and, less venally, when playing along is something they think will please their parents.
Origin
Mid 17th century (in the sense 'available for purchase', referring to merchandise or a favour): from Latin venalis, from venum 'thing for sale'.
This adjective meaning ‘motivated by susceptibility to bribery’ was initially used in the sense ‘available for purchase’, referring to merchandise or a favour. Latin venalis is the source, from venum ‘thing for sale’.