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
The latest news comes from a project a decade in the making and includes affordable housing options in some of Charlotte’s affluent neighborhoods. Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025 Monetization can even create new vulnerabilities and sources of insecurity by incentivizing affluent players to join the game. Don Graves, Foreign Affairs, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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 Hotels have capitalized on this trend, which is no longer a niche market for the affluent. R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for affluent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affluent
Adjective
  • The scandal exposed how some wealthy families cheated and bribed to secure spots for their children at elite universities, sparking nationwide outrage over denied opportunities for more deserving students.
    Hanna Park, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • In this creative director, Balenciaga’s parent company Kering has nabbed for itself a top couturier with a pent-up following of wealthy people who will freely spend.
    Sarah Mower, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Don’t miss the Côa Museum, one of the country’s largest, perched at the mouth of the Côa River, a tributary of the Douro.
    Anna Mazurek, AFAR Media, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Sitting on a tributary of the Nile, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, took some 15 years to built and the Ethiopians see it as a key to their future economic prosperity.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • One way is when iron-rich rock is exposed to high temperatures and acidic conditions, but neither are evident in the area around Cheyava Falls.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The story has too many rich details to be a lie, and Marlon knows something of woe too.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Affluent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affluent. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on affluent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!