nouveau riche

Definition of nouveau richenext
as in parvenu
one who has recently acquired wealth and social position a nouveau riche who is reportedly using his money to buy his way into Palm Beach society

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 nouveau riche If the digital nouveau riche have sufficient discretionary income to unseat the coupon-clipping linear-TV gang, all that outsized buying power may not necessarily translate to a full-on tech takeover. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026 Trouble begins brewing with the arrival of their nouveau riche neighbors, Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif), and his ward, Isabella (Alison Oliver). Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026 As nouveau riche neighbor Yermolái (Lance Gardner) tries to impress upon the profligate Liubóv that her property is in arrears and about to be auctioned off, the rules and tone of their world still seem unsettled under the direction of Carey Perloff. Theater Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Feb. 2026 For decades, when most people thought about Baden-Baden, the image that likely came to mind was that of a rather stuffy luxury resort where wealthy seniors shared the town with nouveau riche newcomers. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nouveau riche
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nouveau riche
Noun
  • In 1952, backed by little more than his reputation as a war hero and a fortune staked by his parvenu father, 35-year-old John F. Kennedy swiped a Senate seat from Republican Henry Cabot Lodge, himself a wealthy combat veteran.
    Kevin Mahnken, The New Republic, 1 Sep. 2020
  • Raveendran, at least on paper, assumes his place among those parvenus thanks to his effort in internet education.
    Saritha Rai, Fortune, 29 July 2019
Noun
  • And then there’s a number of smaller upstarts such as LMNT and Unwell Hydration from podcaster Alex Cooper.
    Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 13 May 2026
  • Last summer, during a show at Pier 17, overlooking the East River, Langley played the part of the humble upstart.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Eliastam was met by fellow adventurer Andy Dorantes and members of ALE.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
  • Around that time, a celebrity biologist and adventurer named Robert Marc Lehmann showed up in a gray-camouflage wetsuit.
    Jessica Camille Aguirre, New Yorker, 2 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nouveau riche.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nouveau%20riche. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster