affluent 1 of 2

affluent

2 of 2

noun

as in tributary
a stream that flows into a larger body of water the Nipigon and the St. Louis rivers are affluents of Lake Superior

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word affluent distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of affluent are opulent, rich, and wealthy. While all these words mean "having goods, property, and money in abundance," affluent suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth.

an affluent society

When could opulent be used to replace affluent?

The synonyms opulent and affluent are sometimes interchangeable, but opulent suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth, more often applying to things than people.

an opulent mansion

When is rich a more appropriate choice than affluent?

The words rich and affluent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rich implies having more than enough to gratify normal needs or desires.

became rich through shrewd investing

When can wealthy be used instead of affluent?

Although the words wealthy and affluent have much in common, wealthy stresses the possession of property and intrinsically valuable things.

wealthy landowners

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of affluent
Adjective
Other affluent towns have sought out similar changes in the past — with mixed results. Calmatters, Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2025 Robert Carroll, a New York state assemblyman who represents Brooklyn, said given the research showing more affluent consumers are more likely to buy online, $3 is not going to break the bank, and such a fee could be a boon to the state’s infrastructure budget. Kevin Williams, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
But today, glamping is no longer reserved for the affluent. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 26 June 2025 My hope is that more working-class writers—regardless of race, gender, or orientation—find their way to publication, if only because their experiences are far more prevalent than the experiences of the affluent. Lee Cole june 17, Literary Hub, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for affluent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affluent
Adjective
  • Outside in the historic downtown, the imposing Mississippi County Courthouse, built over a century ago in Classical style with Ionic columns and a grand copper dome, also speaks of wealthier days.
    Didi Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • As white-collar jobs become increasingly oversaturated, the posting highlights how lucrative side hustles are taking place not only in corporate boardrooms but also in the living rooms of the ultra-wealthy.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • These ancient, natural waterways are former tributaries of the Rio Grande left behind hundreds to thousands of years ago when the river shifted its course.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Egypt and Ethiopia have long been at loggerheads over Ethiopia’s construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on a Nile tributary, which began in 2011 and was completed this year.
    Colin Meyn, The Hill, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The thrill of the unexplained is what prompts so many to take ghost tours, which often tell juicy and sometimes goosebump-inducing stories that give historic sites a richer context.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The upper of the shoes is made from a rich suede in a burgundy wine color, which adds texture to the heels and serves as the backdrop for the colorful beaded spikes.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Affluent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affluent. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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