Antonyms for venal


Grammar : Adj
Spell : veen-l
Phonetic Transcription : ˈvin l


Definition of venal

Origin :
  • 1650s, "offered for sale, capable of being obtained for a price," from French vénal, from Latin venalis "that is for sale," from venum (nominative *venus) "for sale," from PIE root *wes- "to buy, sell" (cf. Sanskrit vasnah "purchase money," vasnam "reward," vasnayati "he bargains, haggles;" Greek onos "price paid, purchase," oneisthai "to buy").
  • adj bribable, corruptible
Example sentences :
  • The fate of the children of venal concubines is generally very sad.
  • Extract from : « The Sexual Question » by August Forel
  • They were so venal, too, that they aided the enemy rather than us by their movements.
  • Extract from : « The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete » by Duc de Saint-Simon
  • And the venal English press which conceals the fact, what shall be said of it?
  • Extract from : « Ireland as It Is » by Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)
  • This man was the Tweed of Mexico, and one of the most venal officials ever trusted by the people.
  • Extract from : « Aztec Land » by Maturin M. Ballou
  • Yet then did Gildon draw his venal quill;— I wished the man a dinner, and sat still.
  • Extract from : « Essay on Man » by Alexander Pope
  • The smell of the indecent and venal informer exhaled from the pages.
  • Extract from : « The Art of Disappearing » by John Talbot Smith
  • "But the pen was not venal, Master Anachronism," said my father.
  • Extract from : « The Caxtons, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • If I had been venal, I should have sold myself to its designs.
  • Extract from : « Thirty Years' View (Vol. I of 2) » by Thomas Hart Benton
  • Riza was also corrupt and venal, and robbed the treasury of untold sums.
  • Extract from : « The Turkish Empire, its Growth and Decay » by Lord Eversley
  • Talleyrand was not venal in the more offensive sense of the word.
  • Extract from : « Talleyrand » by Joseph McCabe

Synonyms for venal

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019