affluent 1 of 2

Definition of affluentnext

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
Like Jane Eyre—a governess who fell for her affluent employer—Woodley’s character, a young single mother, is a broke outsider in an exclusive community. Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026 One popular strain of urban-policy thinking opposes gentrification—the arrival of affluent people into poor neighborhoods—and argues that poverty should be rectified by ever greater expenditure on public housing. Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
The conventional wisdom sees meager job growth as largely a result of immigration restrictions and demographics, disconnected from still-healthy GDP-tracking models that capture urgent capex levels and free spending by the affluent. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2025 But only once has the mercantile danced with the affluent to such sensuous effect in the realm of fiction. JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for affluent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affluent
Adjective
  • Its dual mission is to bridge the early-stage funding gap and guarantee global access, ensuring products aren’t confined to wealthy markets for decades but are introduced in low- and middle-income countries in parallel.
    Ana Castelain, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Critics have warned that such an imposition will spark capital flight as wealthy people decide to simply uproot, as Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have already started to do.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • History is everywhere in Okinawa, which from 1429 to 1879 was the Ryukyu Kingdom, a tributary state under China’s Ming and Qing dynasties.
    Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The falls are also named for this blue-green water, which eventually flows into the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River through side canyons and tributaries.
    Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Militant attacks erupted Saturday in Balochistan, a resource-rich region where Pakistan is seeking to attract foreign investment in mining and minerals.
    Abdul Sattar, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Bone broth and collagen supplements are rich in nutrients that support gut, joint, and skin health.
    Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 1 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Affluent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affluent. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

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