opulent

adjective

op·​u·​lent ˈä-pyə-lənt 

: exhibiting or characterized by opulence: such as

a

: amply or plentifully provided or fashioned often to the point of ostentation

living in opulent comfort

opulent furnishings

an opulent hotel

b

dated : having a large estate or property : wealthy

an opulent family

opulent industrialists

opulently adverb

Synonyms

• wealthy
• rich
• affluent

Choose the Right Synonym for opulent

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 opulent in a Sentence

an opulent upper crust that liked to show off its possessions

an opulent mansion filled with priceless art and antiques

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2004, Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, then the country’s second richest person, sprang for an opulent six-day wedding celebration in Paris for his daughter Vanisha. —Martina Di Licosa, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

The recent Rococo revival, while looking to a more opulent and colorful era, has also seen ruching and ruffled details experiencing a renaissance. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 June 2025

The saloon’s internal-combustion engine may have been swapped out for an all-electric powertrain, but thanks to the shop’s attention to detail, the vehicle remains as opulent as ever. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 25 June 2025

This week, celebrity guests began arriving for the nuptials and protestors took to the city to voice dissatisfaction with the billionaire's growing wealth and opulent display. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 25 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin opulentus "abounding in resources, wealthy," from op-, *ops "power, ability, wealth" + -ulentus "having in quantity, full of" (probably dissimilated from *-o-u̯ent-os, with Indo-European *-u̯ent-, suffix of possession) — more at opus

First Known Use

circa 1518, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

opulent

adjective

op·​u·​lent ˈäp-yə-lənt 

: having or showing much wealth

opulently adverb