as in successful
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Recent Examples of better-off
Lower earners historically see higher rates of inflation than their better-off counterparts, said Morgan Stanley economist Heather Berger.
—
Alex Harring, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson housing projects were built and black folks settled in, dreaming of moving in with their better-off cousins who lived near Lenox Avenue.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
When New York boldly expanded free preschool a decade ago, classroom quality climbed mostly in better-off neighborhoods, failing to lift poor children.
—Bruce Fuller, Oc Register, 27 Dec. 2025
The pumpkin would most likely have been stewed, possibly with meat, but pies reflected British heritage and were a common staple in better-off households.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Japan was in a deep recession, but Uniqlo kept growing, offering bargains for the struggling masses and discretion for better-off consumers in an era that frowned upon conspicuous consumption.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Poorer school districts could also struggle to access the latest AI technology, widening the gap with areas that are better-off, Robin Lake, director of Arizona State University’s Center on Reinventing Public Education, told CNN.
—Nic F. Anderson, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
In the 1870s, workers and domestic servants were still living close to their employers in back alleys and compounds behind the homes of the better-off.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 5 May 2025
The proportion already in private schools dipped from 70% in 2023-24 – reflecting the first year of eligibility for better-off families – to 30%.
—Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Feb. 2025
Alex Harring, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson housing projects were built and black folks settled in, dreaming of moving in with their better-off cousins who lived near Lenox Avenue.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
When New York boldly expanded free preschool a decade ago, classroom quality climbed mostly in better-off neighborhoods, failing to lift poor children.
—Bruce Fuller, Oc Register, 27 Dec. 2025
The pumpkin would most likely have been stewed, possibly with meat, but pies reflected British heritage and were a common staple in better-off households.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Japan was in a deep recession, but Uniqlo kept growing, offering bargains for the struggling masses and discretion for better-off consumers in an era that frowned upon conspicuous consumption.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Poorer school districts could also struggle to access the latest AI technology, widening the gap with areas that are better-off, Robin Lake, director of Arizona State University’s Center on Reinventing Public Education, told CNN.
—Nic F. Anderson, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
In the 1870s, workers and domestic servants were still living close to their employers in back alleys and compounds behind the homes of the better-off.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 5 May 2025
The proportion already in private schools dipped from 70% in 2023-24 – reflecting the first year of eligibility for better-off families – to 30%.
—Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for better-off
Adjective
-
It’s understood that there’s nothing more difficult than being a successful editor, therapist, or author, even with a stash of pill bottles in a wicker basket beside an opulent floral arrangement.—
Libby Gelman-Waxner,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2026
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But Apple’s more recent expansions into areas like virtual reality and artificial intelligence haven’t been as successful.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Across youth sports, affluent families are making enormous financial and logistical bets on their children’s athletic futures—relocating across state lines, buying second homes near top-tier academies, and spending well into six figures annually on tuition, private coaching, travel, and club teams.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2026
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Socialists like to spend money — lots of other people’s money, of course — and Mamdani has been hampered by the fiscal stewards of Albany who, thankfully for New York City, aren’t likely to allow his more egregious schemes that would only drive away more of the city’s crucial affluent class.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Somehow his childhood friend went from gas fitter to the nation’s wealthiest man.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Warsh, a former top official at the Fed and a wealthy investor, faced a range of tough questions at the hearing.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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On the other hand, especially given that the vote was still restricted to only a small minority of propertied men, the rise of party politics itself sharpened the age-old mistrust of popular judgment as irrational and easily swayed—especially by lies.—
Fara Dabhoiwala,
Harpers Magazine,
4 June 2025
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No one could vote except propertied, head-of-household men.—
Emily McDermott,
ARTnews.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And how a prosperous society, facing no comparable threat, can hesitate to redistribute resources that are readily available.—
Nataliya Gumenyuk,
The Dial,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Ogilvie went on to become a successful, prosperous attorney in Chicago, and is today considered by close observers to be one of the state’s outstanding governors.—
Jim Nowlan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Until recently, Magyar was an anonymous, well-to-do Fidesz apparatchik.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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Studded with private island resorts and crisscrossed by megayachts, the British Virgin Islands have long been considered the Caribbean playground of the well-to-do.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Palace created little, with a functional midfield failing to break the lines and play balls in behind a defence that was comfortable sitting relatively deep.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
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This set includes a spacious table and cushioned seating, creating a comfortable setup for both everyday meals and hosting.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The largest monthly jump in gas prices in six decades caused a sharp spike in inflation last month, creating major challenges for the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve and heightening already substantial political hurdles for the White House.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Apr. 2026
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Its techniques are still breathtaking today, richer and more substantial than any images that came before and many that followed.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Better-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/better-off. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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