Greedy vs Venal - What's the difference?
greedy | venal | Related terms |
Having greed; consumed by selfish desires.
* , chapter=7
, title= Prone to overeat.
(computing) Tending to match as much text as possible.
(archaic) For sale; available for purchase.
Of a position, privilege etc.: available for purchase rather than assigned on merit.
* 2002 , , The Great Nation , Penguin 2003, p. 140:
Capable of being bought (of a person); willing to take bribes.
Corrupt, mercenary.
* 1785 , The Times , 9 Feb 1785, page 1, column C:
Greedy is a related term of venal.
As adjectives the difference between greedy and venal
is that greedy is having greed; consumed by selfish desires while venal is available for a price; venal.greedy
English
Adjective
(er)The Mirror and the Lamp, passage=“[…] Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing. Oh, dear, there's so much to tell you, so many warnings to give you, but all that must be postponed for the moment.”}}
Synonyms
* gluttonous * See alsoDerived terms
* greed (by back-formation) * greediness * greedy-gutsExternal links
* *Anagrams
* (l)venal
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl)Etymology 2
From (etyl) , compare vendAdjective
(en adjective)- Thus, regimental commands in the army were – as with the judiciary or the financial bureaucracy – venal posts, which were purchased, bequeathed and sold among the nobility.
- Though there is a disposition in mankind, to declaim against the corruption and peculation of the present times, as being more venal than formerly; yet, if we look back to different periods, we shall find statesmen and politicians, as selfish and corrupt, (...) as those who have lately figured on the political stage.