opulent

adjective

op·​u·​lent ˈä-pyə-lənt How to pronounce opulent (audio)
: exhibiting or characterized by opulence: such as
a
: amply or plentifully provided or fashioned often to the point of ostentation
living in opulent comfort
opulent furnishings
an opulent hotel
b
dated : having a large estate or property : wealthy
an opulent family
opulent industrialists
opulently adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for opulent

rich, wealthy, affluent, opulent 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

wealthy stresses the possession of property and intrinsically valuable things.

wealthy landowners

affluent suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth.

an affluent society

opulent suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth, more often applying to things than people.

an opulent mansion

Examples of opulent in a Sentence

an opulent upper crust that liked to show off its possessions an opulent mansion filled with priceless art and antiques
Recent Examples on the Web The San Mateo Heritage Alliance, which seems to be an opulent homeowners’ clique, was founded in 2022. Byalena Botros, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024 But Henry Sugar doesn’t represent the best of Anderson’s opulent humanism (The Darjeeling Limited, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic, and Asteroid City). Armond White, National Review, 15 Mar. 2024 The 40 opulent guest rooms and private homes feature sweeping sea-view windows and patios that make Big Sur the star of the show. Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2024 From Hermès to Carven’s debut by Louise Trotter or Dries Van Noten, the focus was on elevated minimalism for discreetly opulent wardrobes. Alice Pfeiffer, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 By peeling back the layers of a area often obscured by opulent tasting rooms and placing its flavors in the setting of a humble craftsman bungalow, the Napa Valley onion begins to taste a little sweeter. Joe Sills, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 The show is the result of Bailey’s six-week residency at a place quite unlike Transformer, the opulent and expansive Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 The flowers juxtaposed with the thick, curb chain, are somehow timeless and opulent at the same time. Erika Veurink, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2024 Located in the Parker Palm Springs Hotel, patrons are transported back to a bygone era of opulent and extravagant dining. Noël Burgess, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'opulent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin opulentus "abounding in resources, wealthy," from op-, *ops "power, ability, wealth" + -ulentus "having in quantity, full of" (probably dissimilated from *-o-u̯ent-os, with Indo-European *-u̯ent-, suffix of possession) — more at opus

First Known Use

circa 1518, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of opulent was circa 1518

Dictionary Entries Near opulent

Cite this Entry

“Opulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opulent. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

opulent

adjective
op·​u·​lent ˈäp-yə-lənt How to pronounce opulent (audio)
: having or showing much wealth
opulently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on opulent

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