Meaning & use
venially
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Meaning
adverbnot comparableformalrare
In a way that is a small, forgivable fault and not a grave wrong.
Grammar: Rare; modifies a verb or adjective, as in venially guilty.
Patterns
- venially guilty
- sin venially
He was only venially guilty, since the mistake harmed nobody.
The priest explained that skipping a prayer sins venially, not seriously.
She lingered venially over dessert, though she had promised to diet.
Common combinations
- venially guilty
- The clerk was venially guilty of exaggerating on his resume.
- sin venially
- In the old teaching, a person could sin venially without losing grace.
- venially wrong
- Borrowing a pen without asking is venially wrong at worst.
- venially at fault
- He was venially at fault for arriving late.
Synonyms and how they differ
- excusably
- Excusably is a plain word meaning in a way that can be excused, while venially is more formal and carries a religious flavor.
- forgivably
- Forgivably is the everyday equivalent, whereas venially suggests a ranked scale of wrongs.
- pardonably
- Pardonably is also formal, but lacks the connection with the idea of venial sin.
Opposites
Word family
- venial adjective
- minor and forgivable
- veniality noun
- the quality of being a minor, forgivable fault, rare
- venialness noun
- the state of being venial, rare
Commonly confused: venially or venally? venially or vainly?
venially vs venally
Venally means in a way that can be bought with bribes, while venially means in a minor, forgivable way.
venially vs vainly
Vainly means in a way that is useless or conceited, not minor or forgivable.
Practice
Which word best completes: Taking an extra biscuit is, at worst, ___ wrong.
Choose one answer.
Venially means in a minor, forgivable way. Venally means open to bribery, which is a tempting look-alike, while mortally and gravely mean the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “venially”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.