Synonym Chooser

How is the word opulent distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of opulent are affluent, rich, and wealthy. While all these words mean "having goods, property, and money in abundance," opulent suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth, more often applying to things than people.

an opulent mansion

Where would affluent be a reasonable alternative to opulent?

While the synonyms affluent and opulent are close in meaning, affluent suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth.

an affluent society

When can rich be used instead of opulent?

While in some cases nearly identical to opulent, rich implies having more than enough to gratify normal needs or desires.

became rich through shrewd investing

When is wealthy a more appropriate choice than opulent?

The words wealthy and opulent can be used in similar contexts, but 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 opulent From Dries Van Noten to Miu Miu, these ’80s, opulent-leaning shades of purple were all over the fall 2025 runways, and spring 2026 seems to be continuing the trend too, from a pleated Prada look in Milan to a sheer and silky take at Colleen Allen. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2025 It’s found in the opulent decorations that fill the restaurant and hang from its ceiling at Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025 The team behind New York City‘s over-the-top Italian restaurant Bad Roman is adding an opulent Mexican restaurant to its lineup. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 22 Sep. 2025 Black cherries exploded with Toro’s wild earthiness—powerful yet poised and opulent. Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for opulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opulent
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
Adjective
  • The seven-piece Horsebit Colleciton includes five bottoms and two jackets that are decorated with luxurious hardware for a polished edge.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Where would his luxurious effort last night rank in terms of another award that does not exist, namely the greatest-ever assist in the Champions League?
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Being part of this team, there’s so much rich history.
    Scott Powers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The cool colors seemed colder, the warm ones red-hot, and the subtle gradations across the spectrum were seemingly infinite and filled with rich detail.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • High-end luxury prices start at nearly five times that price, while ultra-luxury surge to more than 12 times the typical home price.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Fisker, 62, is best known for designing ultra-luxury cars for BMW, Ford, Tesla, and Aston Martin before starting Fisker Automotive in 2007.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Fasano Sardegna, located 15 miles south from the Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport, will replicate the character of JHSF’s existing developments and unique holistic approach to catering to the affluent lifestyle.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Initially, Alex Pou worked closely with a Coconut Grove youth-football team, known as the Redskins, whose players were often poached by affluent youth-football leagues from outside the area.
    Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • An informal cut, perhaps, though the top’s material — a luxuriant silk crepe — helped elevate the look.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Beyond it is a three-hectare haven of silvery olive trees, luxuriant Washingtonia palms, and lawns where peacocks wander freely.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Rush just released the 50-track super deluxe anthology RUSH 50, which runs from the first-ever reissue of their 1973 debut single through a live recording of the final song Lee, Lifeson and Peart played together during the R40 tour closer at the Forum.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Go back to the days of acoustic or deluxe CDs and regular and signed and call it a day.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The science, literature and economics prizes are presented to the laureates by the Swedish king at a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death, followed by a lavish banquet at city hall.
    USA Today, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Liz and Dick fell in love on the set of Cleopatra, the ridiculously expensive and lavish epic love story of the ancient Egyptian queen and the Roman general Mark Antony.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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