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venal

[veen-l] / ˈvin l /


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.

An agitated Jean finds herself praying to none other than Monica Lewinsky, the patron saint of bad romantic choices, or as Langbein puts it, “of those who suffer venal public shaming and patriarchal cruelty.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Network, from 1976, cast him as a venal television producer.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

“I think people would actually be surprised there’s more decisions made in Congress on what people believe is in the public interest than in venal self-interest,” he told me.

From Slate • Jul. 10, 2025

Santos incarnates its venal and ridiculous side, the part rooted in reality TV and get-rich-quick schemes.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 3, 2023

“But pride, venal pride, got the better of you. And to think, all this time we could’ve been working together toward a common good!”

From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs




Vocabulary lists containing venal


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