Definition of richnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word rich distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of rich are affluent, opulent, and wealthy. While all these words mean "having goods, property, and money in abundance," rich implies having more than enough to gratify normal needs or desires.

became rich through shrewd investing

When would affluent be a good substitute for rich?

The words affluent and rich can be used in similar contexts, but affluent suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth.

an affluent society

When might opulent be a better fit than rich?

The words opulent and rich are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, opulent suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth, more often applying to things than people.

an opulent mansion

When can wealthy be used instead of rich?

The meanings of wealthy and rich largely overlap; however, 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 rich Donations poured in from rich liberal enclaves and small rural communities. The Week Us, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026 Italy offers an unparalleled combination of natural beauty, a rich artistic and cultural heritage, and iconic global brands spanning fashion, design, and technology. Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026 Oil prices have pulled back in recent days despite widening hostilities, as traders hope for a recovery in energy shipments from oil-rich Saudi Arabia. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026 Ahmed Soliman, an Egyptian national, and Samson Birhane from Eritrea are among over 40 people who have been deported by the United States to Equatorial Guinea, a small oil-rich state in central Africa. Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rich
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rich
Adjective
  • Around the halfway point of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, Petya Trofimov — eternal grad student, moral purist, and former tutor to the once wealthy family whose diminution sits at the heart of the play — makes a speech.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • When a wealthy, royal woman is attacked by bandits, the two men save her and are welcomed to the castle as valiant knights.
    Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Instead, opt for fattier cuts, like chicken thighs, pork shoulders, or beef chuck, that become tender and flavorful over time.
    Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 6 Sep. 2026
  • If your goal is to get the most omega-3s, choose fattier fish like salmon.
    Merve Ceylan, HEALTH, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Both need a robust GOP turnout to win in November and neither wants to risk alienating too many within the party’s xenophobic, anti-immigrant wing.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
  • That means there will be precious little time for robust debate, either in the board itself or among the public in general.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Still, this is fertile ground for massive shifts, both personally and at a larger scale.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The country also represents about 10 to 15 percent of Autry’s global online sales, signaling the ground is fertile.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Ralph Lauren’s latest quarterly report showed revenue rose 14%, led by demand from younger shoppers as well as affluent ones.
    Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Serious crimes in predominantly white or more affluent areas were far more likely to become CMPD priorities, McFadden told The Charlotte Observer in 2018.
    Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The formula also contains tsubaki seed oil to infuse the scalp and hair with enough hydration to reduce itchiness without making hair feel greasy or heavy.
    Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The result is an unusually fluid lotion that absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy film.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Once inside the warehouse, shoppers tend to linger, enticed by a potent cocktail of comforting routine, retail adrenaline and cheap eats.
    Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
  • As Layla El-Faouly in the Disney+ miniseries Moon Knight, the Egyptian-Palestinian actor May Calamawy gave a convincing, emotionally potent performance in English.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The case cast Letby as one of Britain’s most prolific child serial killers.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The prolific costume designer and Southern California native died Monday, according to a tribute posted to his official Instagram page.
    Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rich.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rich. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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