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
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.
And every era of the show gives something entertaining, opulent and different. Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024 Assad was swept from power by a lightning-quick rebel offensive after a 13-year civil war and six decades of his family’s autocratic rule, and the opulent trappings of a regime that inflicted terror and poverty on Syria's people are now clear for all to see. Richard Engel, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024 When worn, Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil creates an opulent multi-dimensional lip look that lasts for hours without drying or bleeding out. Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 In addition to opulent craft cocktails, Champagne and wine, Pier Top will offer caviar, oysters and light bites. Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for opulent 

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 22 Dec. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!