wealthy

adjective

ˈwel-thē How to pronounce wealthy (audio)
 also  ˈwelt-thē
wealthier; wealthiest
1
: having wealth : very affluent
2
: characterized by abundance : ample
wealthily adverb
wealthiness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for wealthy

rich, wealthy, affluent, opulent mean having goods, property, and money in abundance.

rich implies having more than enough to gratify normal needs or desires.

became rich through shrewd investing

wealthy stresses the possession of property and intrinsically valuable things.

wealthy landowners

affluent suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth.

an affluent society

opulent suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth, more often applying to things than people.

an opulent mansion

Examples of wealthy in a Sentence

He is a wealthy entrepreneur. the wealthiest nations in the world
Recent Examples on the Web Many Bay Area voters want better public transportation and roadways — if wealthy residents and companies pay for them, according to a new poll. Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 Several members of the group have also called out wealthy churches that have so far done little to assist. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2024 But recently, some companies have slashed teams dedicated to DEI and wealthy corporate leaders such as Bill Ackman and Elon Musk have made posts on social media that decried diversity programs. Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 The week's most popular stories Plus, Apple's rough 2024 could get worse, and American Airlines doubles down on its wealthiest customers Start Slideshow Taylor Swift and Singapore showed how to win the concert business. Quartz Staff, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 Yes, the state income tax rate is among the steepest for wealthier people, topping out at 13.3% for millionaires, and its gasoline tax of 57.9 cents a gallon is considered the nation’s highest. David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024 According to research from the National College Attainment Network, students from poorer high school districts are less likely to fill out the FAFSA than those from wealthier districts. The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 The ruling also is expected to set a precedent for other Caribbean nations fighting to protect land that wealthy foreign developers seek to develop, especially after investors seize upon economic opportunities following a catastrophe or national disaster. Dánica Coto, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024 Plus, wealthy stock holders may be taking advantage of tax breaks implemented during the Trump administration, noted Johnson, in case they are eliminated under any new administration or Congress after the upcoming elections. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wealthy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wealthy was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near wealthy

Cite this Entry

“Wealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wealthy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wealthy

adjective
wealthier; wealthiest
1
: having wealth : rich
2
: marked by plenty : abundant
wealthiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on wealthy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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