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 The Chahār Bāgh ran alongside a series of opulent buildings that housed members of the Safavid court, and social activities on both sides of this square spilled over to the bridge. Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026 ARTnews can reveal that the artist who was struck from the list was Bodys Isek Kingelez, a Congolese artist known for his vast, colorful cardboard sculptures of opulent cities. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 7 May 2026 The five-star gem is certainly the most opulent property within the park—or in Scotland, for that matter. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026 The lights are low throughout the space, and the dark colors on the walls and ceiling, coupled with the white, marbled bar top and gold accents, give Alibi an opulent feel without feeling unapproachable. Sarah Gilliland, Southern Living, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for opulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opulent
Adjective
  • However, when combined with broader tax regimes, these tax policies may contribute to gradual shifts in where ultra-wealthy individuals allocate assets, particularly toward lower-tax jurisdictions.
    Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 12 May 2026
  • Questions persist about whether a billionaire candidate can effectively represent and prioritize the interests of working-class voters, with concerns that billionaires as a demographic cannot be trusted to champion non-wealthy citizens’ concerns in political leadership.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • Set on a quiet street in heart of the Marais with its lively village atmosphere, luxurious Maison Proust is the ideal refuge for those who appreciate hotels with character, art, literature and history, and who seek a tranquil weekend escape in the heart of Paris.
    Ellie Seymour, TheWeek, 12 May 2026
  • Give your bedscape a luxurious upgrade.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • Here, this translates as an exuberance of bread, meat and dairy, rich and fortifying.
    Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
  • That’s rich — like the pot calling the kettle black.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • But now all that luxuriant coat is starting to come off.
    Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The luxuriant texture combined with the umami depth-charge can stun a table into silence.
    Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • With fashion spending projected to rise sharply, global buyers see Saudi designers not only as creative talents, but as commercial partners with access to a large, affluent consumer base.
    FMG Studios, Footwear News, 10 May 2026
  • Wilson is zoned for the 9th District, which extends across most of the state’s southern border before curving up to encompass the largely white and affluent Nashville suburbs.
    Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • Available for 50,000 euros a week, the villa positions itself firmly within the ultra-luxury category, though Château de Berne appears less interested in traditional notions of opulence than in constructing a particularly French perspective.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
  • Miami’s latest ultra-luxury condo launch comes from some of the biggest names in global design and hospitality—though notably, it isn’t tied to an existing hotel or fashion brand.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • Fans are already scheming how this might happen — whether Kahan releases a deluxe version of The Great Divide and Bridgers appears, or something else entirely.
    Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2026
  • Pick up some Georgia peaches from the farm stand and give them the deluxe treatment.
    Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • For now, the closest thing to another A24 eatery is the new Ambassadors Clubhouse, a lavish Indian restaurant imported from London that shares a building with the studio’s offices in Koreatown and by extension some of A24’s aura.
    Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
  • The villa delivers highly personalized service, such as toddler essentials, lavish breakfasts, and unlimited Leclerc Briant Champagne sourced from nearby vineyards.
    Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Opulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opulent. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

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