Synonym Chooser

How is the word wealthy distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of wealthy are affluent, opulent, and rich. While all these words mean "having goods, property, and money in abundance," wealthy stresses the possession of property and intrinsically valuable things.

wealthy landowners

Where would affluent be a reasonable alternative to wealthy?

In some situations, the words affluent and wealthy are roughly equivalent. However, affluent suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth.

an affluent society

When would opulent be a good substitute for wealthy?

The synonyms opulent and wealthy are sometimes interchangeable, but opulent suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth, more often applying to things than people.

an opulent mansion

When might rich be a better fit than wealthy?

The words rich and wealthy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rich implies having more than enough to gratify normal needs or desires.

became rich through shrewd investing

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 wealthy Rounding out the character lineup is Frau von Luber, an erstwhile aristocrat who’s reduced to being the housekeeper in newly wealthy Olim’s castle—which used to belong to her. JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025 While his proposals—like a rent freeze and free buses—would require cooperation from Governor Kathy Hochul to raise taxes on wealthy New Yorkers, Mamdani has emphasized flexibility. Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 Since the 1960s, Egypt’s North Coast has been a popular vacation spot with the nation’s wealthy elite. Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025 Duran had published articles on Tan and his wealthy colleagues, like Balaji Srinivasan, a tech investor who was promoting an esoteric but stubbornly influential concept called the Network State. Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wealthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wealthy
Adjective
  • But only once has the mercantile danced with the affluent to such sensuous effect in the realm of fiction.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The story centers on Angine (Amir), an affluent but unhappy woman who compulsively shops in an esteemed department store.
    Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The thrill of the unexplained is what prompts so many to take ghost tours, which often tell juicy and sometimes goosebump-inducing stories that give historic sites a richer context.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The upper of the shoes is made from a rich suede in a burgundy wine color, which adds texture to the heels and serves as the backdrop for the colorful beaded spikes.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wealthy. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wealthy

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