Definition of opulentnext

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 Everything that makes Las Vegas fabulous — bright lights, over-the-top design, opulent food and drinks, and eccentric characters — can be found in spades at Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 10 Sep. 2026 Lauren pared down the lavish setting from his fall ready-to-wear show of opulent rugs and antique chairs, keeping the setting white and minimalist with attendees sitting on ivory fabric benches and models emerging from behind white doors. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026 Palmares offers a full destination experience, with three different golf courses, stunning views of the Atlantic, opulent lodging, fine cuisine, and much to enjoy outside the fairways. — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Both opulent mansions were built in the 19th century and feature sprawling grounds, with authentic Victorian fixtures and furniture in the Vaile mansion drawing visitors from all over the world. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for opulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opulent
Adjective
  • Lee won his race after portraying Sosnick as a wealthy outsider with investments in fossil fuel companies such as Chevron and Valero.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Purchasing adjacent properties has become a popular strategy for celebrities and wealthy homebuyers in South Florida looking for space and privacy.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • There is something debauched and luxurious about Durham’s photos, and not just because everyone in them is dressed as French aristocrats guzzling champagne and popping bon-bons.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The train itself isn’t luxurious, but taking it gives you a front-row seat to witness the incredible feat of engineering required to load it onto special tracks on the ferry.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • But good fiction requires novelists to step beyond niceness and toward some richer mix of curiosity and compassion.
    — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • On Sunday, the model stopped by a Brooklyn farmer’s market for an autumnal bouquet—all rich oranges and dusky browns—which coordinated with her fall ’fit.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Olivia Miles, the rookie point guard for the Minnesota Lynx, wears a pair of bug-eyed sports goggles, black and bulbous, sometimes held in place by a thick strap that runs through her luxuriant Afro.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • At the end of the fifth group, one girl’s face blossomed into a radiant flower, and another drew herself with luxuriant pigtails, standing beneath a bright red beating heart.
    — James Gordon, Time, 14 July 2026
Adjective
  • Even here in the Dovners’ affluent apartment, there was no pretending.
    — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Rob Edwards helps affluent families preserve and grow their wealth while turning their Florida move into a strategic wealth advantage.
    — Rob Edwards, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • This marks the only occurrence since 2017 that a non-luxury company has taken the first position on the Paris bourse at the end of a day of trading.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Add in the ultra-luxury Hermès editions ($1,399 for Series 12; $1,499 for Ultra 4), and both lines can climb into true luxury territory.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Adding more songs to an album with a deluxe rerelease months later can either refuel the project’s commercial potential or weigh it down with leftovers once deemed inessential.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The landmark anniversary of Winehouse’s seminal second album Back to Black will be celebrated with a deluxe reissue, which was announced last month.
    — Nick Reilly, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Defined by lavish ornamentation, geometric forms, and unabashed glamour, Art Deco is having a major revival this fall.
    — Corinne Pierre-Louis, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Continue reading … EMPTY POCKETS — AOC's 'Tax the Rich' designer accused of stiffing small business after lavish gala.
    — , FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Opulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opulent. Accessed 29 Sep. 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