Confusables Entry 581 / 1011 60-second read

Venal vs. Venial

Corrupt versus minor / pardonable.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

A venial politician.

✓ Correct

A venal politician.

The ruleii

VENAL = corrupt. VENIAL = minor sin.

VENAL (AL) means corrupt. VENIAL (IAL) means minor or pardonable — often used of sins.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Bribery = venAL."

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