venal

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.

MacKenzie Scott donated $700 million to more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities, showing that not all tech billionaires are selfish and venal.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 28, 2025

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention were desperate to protect their young nation against venal officeholders, discussing fears of corruption so frequently that James Madison made a special note of their preoccupation with the subject.

From Slate • May 12, 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

I feel like there's a cynicism — you use the word venal — because there's a sort of very detached, almost nihilistic perspective that I feel has entered our culture.

From Salon • Sep. 29, 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