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 Change will not come overnight, even with Kroenke assuming the title of baseball’s richest owner. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Amtrak trains stop in foliage-rich destinations across the US and Canada. Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026 Even if newly manufactured, a Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece tells stories of centuries which makes the present that much richer. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 Canned Sardines Sardines are another protein-rich food that doesn’t always make it onto people’s grocery lists. Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rich
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rich
Adjective
  • The pair also meet Sheriff Kerry Kane (Kelly Macdonald) and her wealthy, deeply suspicious father-in-law William Macon (Garret Dillahunt), who possesses an unusual amount of knowledge about aliens.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond being a relatively wealthy, stable and democratic country with vast fishing grounds, Iceland could have joined the bloc relatively quickly.
    Kwiyeon Ha, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • If your goal is to get the most omega-3s, choose fattier fish like salmon.
    Merve Ceylan, HEALTH, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Salmon may be easier to eat as a full meal and can still provide a large amount of omega-3s, especially in fattier species like sockeye and Chinook.
    MD Published, Verywell Health, 12 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • And during a second-quarter earnings call with analysts Thursday, Ulta Beauty CEO Kecia Steelman reported that K-beauty momentum continued, with robust double-digit growth in category sales compared to the same period last year.
    Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Its celebrity pedigree is astonishing (spokespersons and fans include Jane Fonda, Martha Stewart, Andie MacDowell, Heidi Klum, etc), its offerings are robust, and many, if not most of its products, are five-star successes.
    Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Along the way, the train runs more than 590 miles through the fertile Fraser Valley, the Coast Mountains, and the dramatic Fraser Canyon before climbing toward the Canadian Rockies.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Denmark says more than 4,000 women and girls — reportedly half the fertile women in Greenland at the time — received IUDs between the 1960s and mid-1970s.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • This modernist gem, tucked away just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco in the affluent Upper Lucas Valley enclave of San Rafael, carries a dual legacy.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Viking caters primarily to affluent, older travelers and offers an extensive portfolio of river cruises, which sets it apart from more mass-market competitors.
    Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The serums that made the cut had elegant textures that absorbed easily without feeling sticky, greasy, or heavy.
    Sheryl George, Glamour, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Formulated with antioxidant vitamin E to help defend against surface free radicals, this product locks in moisture to hydrate the skin without leaving a greasy residue and dries completely matte upon application.
    Alison Abbey Hudak, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The Islamic Republic survived the assassination of its top leaders and weeks of heavy bombing, and found a potent form of leverage in the Strait of Hormuz.
    Mark Osborne, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Packed with potent ingredients like isopropyl cloprostenate, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E, this formula nurtures and enhances your brows from the root.
    Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Ascherson still regularly produces lengthy pieces for The New York Review of Books and the London Review of Books, and has been one of the most prolific contributors to each publication.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The industry received the announcement of Ackermann in September, after Hawkings’s defenestration in July, warmly and with an exhale—the legacy of Tom Ford, one of fashion’s most prolific contemporary designers, appeared secure.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rich.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rich. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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