wealthy

adjective

ˈwel-thē 

 also  ˈwelt-thē

wealthier; wealthiest

1

: having wealth : very affluent

2

: characterized by abundance : ample

wealthily

ˈwel-thə-lē 

adverb

wealthiness

ˈwel-thē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• affluent
• deep-pocketed
• fat
• fat-cat
• flush
• loaded
• moneyed
• monied
• opulent
• rich
• silk-stocking
• well-endowed
• well-fixed
• well-heeled
• well-off
• well-to-do

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

What would be the real result of a new millionaire tax in New York City? Billionaire Bill Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, suggests the answer is that wealthy taxpayers will flee. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

By the late nineties, relatively wealthier nations had childhood-vaccination rates of more than ninety per cent, and were seeing few cases of vaccine-preventable diseases. —Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 27 June 2025

Democrats have already recoiled at the anti-Muslim attacks he’s faced since Tuesday, and the nervous backroom meetings of wealthy people who want to stop him. —David Weigel, semafor.com, 27 June 2025

While the tax may be imagined for wealthy folks like Swift, Rhode Island natives could also be impacted by the tax, Stephen MacGillivray, a Pierce Atwood partner, told USA TODAY. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 27 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wealthy

• the wealthy

Rhymes for wealthy

• healthy
• stealthy
• unhealthy

Kids Definition

wealthy

adjective

ˈwel-thē 

wealthier; wealthiest

1

: having wealth : rich

2

: marked by plenty : abundant

wealthiness

-thē-nəs 

noun