fat-cat 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of fat-catnext
as in wealthy
having goods, property, or money in abundance the economy was in recession, but the fat-cat financiers on Wall Street didn't seem to be suffering

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fat cat

2 of 2

noun

1
as in have
a wealthy person that last recession was particularly hard on the poor, but the fat cats barely noticed a dip in their bank accounts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group a candidate that has the backing of most of the party's fat cats

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 fat-cat
Adjective
Writers, broadcasters and even fat-cat owners do it as well. — Steve Buckley, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025 But perhaps the biggest antidote to The Studio’s overdog problem is that its fat-cat Apple TV+ profile can easily be spun as good for everybody. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
Nah, that's for the fat cats and money-grubbers. — Steph Wagner, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026 Though many corporations could still afford suites, fat cats high-fiving while their employees lost their jobs and their companies were taking bailouts was a bad look. — John Seabrook, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fat-cat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fat-cat
  1. wealthy
  2. have
  3. heavyweight
  4. rich
  5. capitalist
  6. heavy
  7. affluent
  8. silk stocking
Adjective
  • Even after the setback, young households remained wealthier than their counterparts were before the pandemic.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The airline sees lots of wealthy customers traveling to and from Broward and wants to cater to them with fancier flights.
    — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of wealthy
Noun
  • Not to be outdone, Celsius, another prominent energy drink, has partnered with ESPN to sponsor College GameDay, the hub of the let’s-have-fun-and-watch-TV-sports-all-day movement.
    — Kent Sepkowitz, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • His image suggests an instinct for how a certain can’t-have-it distance is a condition of cool and bankability.
    — David Lê, Curbed, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of have
Noun
  • Tyson, a student of boxing history, surely would have appreciated a deeper discussion of the role of the Black heavyweight champion in culture.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Available in black and blue for $150, it is made from heavyweight, 100 percent cotton canvas with a light stone wash, full lining and corduroy collars and cuffs, according to FlyQuest’s product listings.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavyweight
Adjective
  • Chan Luu is hardly an emerging brand because of its rich history, but Tessa Tran, the niece of Chan Luu, bought back the family business in 2023 and has since revived the line as artistic director.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • At least 84 people remained missing in one of the deadliest shipwrecks yet on the popular but perilous crossing from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, where many migrants seek work in rich Gulf nations.
    — JAMEY KEATEN, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of rich
Noun
  • Launched earlier this year by Stanford engineering graduate and former venture capitalist Madilyn Ontiveros Plumlee, Vero Studio specializes in the niche art form of bridal miniatures.
    — Ari Stark, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Tech Week is in full bloom in San Francisco, packing the city’s restaurants this week with venture capitalists and AI founders ebullient about the White House’s stance on regulating artificial intelligence — namely, don’t do it.
    — Garance Burke, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of capitalist
Noun
  • These days her Halloween costumes are often elaborate and prosthetic-heavy.
    — Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • That also suggests the league accepts, or at least tolerates, the flag-heavy officiating that has come to define the early months of the season.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavy
Adjective
  • Quiet luxury, by invitation Fortune previously reported affluent Gen Z and millennials were prioritizing experiences, wellness, and identity over traditional luxury possessions.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Still, affluent families will be more likely to afford the full scope of additional, out-of-pocket investments, Goldman said.
    — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of affluent
Noun
  • The record also states that the boys were wearing heavy wool coats and silk stockings in the middle of summer in Philly.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
  • In Girard’s household, at least three women would have mended his silk stockings and other clothes.
    — Emily J. Whitted, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of silk stocking

Browse Nearby Words

fatality
fat-cat
fat cat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fat-cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fat-cat. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of syncretic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All