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 of opulent

• 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

Without these qualities, even the most opulent companies can fall prey to overselling and a lack of discipline. —Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 28 May 2026

But many riders from far less opulent backgrounds have reached the pinnacle of the sport. —Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 26 May 2026

Bowie House Bowie House is an opulent New West hotel located on the brick streets of Fort Worth’s Cultural District. —Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026

Shot by Fernando Hernández García in Super 16mm, the film has both the cozy feel of old home videos and the grandeur of an opulent golden-age melodrama. —Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 25 May 2026

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