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 These days, the industry of old has gone, but another rich and profitable seam has opened up. Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 AirPods 5 deliver richer more detailed sound across a wider range of ear geometries. Greta Cross, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 Whole milk can stand in for half-and-half in many recipes, though the result will be less rich. Alyse Whitney, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026 Their Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation effectively quiets daily transit hums and crowded office chatter, while custom 40mm drivers pump out rich acoustics backed by customizable Ultra Bass tuning. Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rich
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rich
Adjective
  • At its heart are two families on different sides of a financial divide who intersect when Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong), a documentary filmmaker married to a wealthy heir, Sang-woo (Zo In-sung), attempts to make a film about labor strife.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • He is soon revealed to be Ye-ji’s husband, a wealthy businessman who exudes the breezy confidence that usually comes with money and privilege.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 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 like Watkins, Jackson is robust, having missed only ten games through injury in three years.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Seaport upgrades Asbury Automotive to buy from neutral Seaport sees robust earnings growth for Asbury.
    Michael Bloom, CNBC, 8 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
  • Redwood’s affluent clients are prioritizing the comfort that fall offers, both through lower temperatures and fewer crowds.
    Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026
  • According to reports, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to settle in the Cotswolds, an affluent countryside region in south-central England, located about two hours outside London.
    Ashley Hume , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The result is an unusually fluid lotion that absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy film.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Just steer clear of anything too heavy or loaded with too many oils, which can weigh down the hair and give the roots a greasy look.
    Elise Tabin, InStyle, 6 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Toad facilitators now regularly milk the toad’s glands and dry the extract so it can be smoked, generating potent trips that are said to collapse the ego.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Together, the formula is more stable—and thus more potent—than any ingredient on its own.
    Deanna Pai, Vogue, 2 Sep. 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 10 Sep. 2026.

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