Meaning & use
venally
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Meanings
adverbformalrare
In a way that shows a willingness to accept money or favors in exchange for acting dishonestly.
Grammar: An adverb, so it usually modifies a verb: act venally, rule venally. The matching adjective is venal: a venal official.
Patterns
- act venally
- behave venally
- rule venally
- be venally corrupt
The report accused several officials of acting venally when they awarded the contracts.
He governed venally for years, selling permits to the highest bidder.
Critics say the agency has behaved venally by taking gifts from the companies it regulates.
adverbformalrare
In a way that involves the buying or selling of something that should not be for sale, such as influence or justice.
Grammar: Used with verbs of deciding, judging or trading: decide venally, trade venally. It describes the whole transaction, not one person's character.
Patterns
- decide venally
- judge venally
- trade venally
The court was said to have decided venally, favoring the party that paid more.
Some claim the licenses were venally traded behind closed doors.
If appointments are made venally, talented candidates never get a chance.
Common combinations
- act venally
- The mayor was criticized for acting venally when he approved the sale.
- behave venally
- Officials who behave venally damage public trust in government.
- rule venally
- The country was ruled venally for decades, with bribes deciding every policy.
- venally corrupt
- The inquiry described the department as venally corrupt from top to bottom.
- venally motivated
- Their decision looked venally motivated rather than based on any real need.
- decide venally
- A judge who decides venally betrays the whole legal system.
Synonyms and how they differ
- corruptly
- Broader and much more common; it covers any dishonest abuse of power, while venally points specifically at money or gifts changing hands.
- dishonestly
- A general everyday word for any lack of honesty; venally is narrower and always suggests bribery.
- greedily
- Focuses on wanting more for yourself, not necessarily on accepting payment to do wrong.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: venally or venally vs venally vs venally?
venally vs venally vs venally vs venally
Learners sometimes mix up venal (open to bribery) with venial (a minor sin that can be forgiven) or with venal in the sense of 'relating to veins', which is venous. Only venal means corrupt.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'venally' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Venally' describes acting in a corrupt, bribe-taking way, so accepting cash for rulings fits. Option 2 confuses it with a word about mood, option 3 with 'intravenously' (into a vein), and option 4 treats an adverb of manner as if it meant 'quickly', which it never does.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “venally”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.