for sale (comparatively more for sale, superlative most for sale) And there were many opportunities: communal affairs were corrupt, courts weak or venal, or both. They found their enthusiasm in running and playing; Her consolation was the buyable love of a ballet dancer. venal m or n (feminine singular venală, masculine plural venali, feminine and neuter plural venal) For there to be any chance, all parties must stop the venal and viral vitriol. Young people had absorbed the widespread venial corruption. He seems to have been sent to instruct and guide legislators in a venal and corrupt time. His generosity was abundant, and the tumult of vehement thanksgiving was always on guard of the venal crowd. Decadent, venal, ineffective, stratified, fearful, stumbling from one declared crisis to another – who wants that? On The Daily Show, Gates piled up, calling Congress “for sale and small.” Find out which words work together and create more natural English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. The stereotypical member of Congress is venal, petty, selfish and oblivious to the consequences of his actions. Buyable acts include bribes, giving jobs to your friends, and cheating. Buyable means pretty much the same as “corrupt” or “corruptible.” People for sale are considered fat and untrustworthy. They are often criminals. No one is perfect, and most of us have reasons for buying at some point. Buyable behavior (corruption) should not be confused with buyable behavior (slightly erroneous behavior).

Join our community to access the latest language learning and assessment tips from Oxford University Press! Only someone who works for the venal evil West would question this. Find the answers online with Practical English Usage, your go-to guide to problems in English. Borrowed from Venal French, Old French venel, Latin vēnālis (“to sell”), from vēnum (“something to sell”); Compare sells.