wealthy

adjective

ˈwel-thē 

 also  ˈwelt-thē

wealthier; wealthiest

1

: having wealth : very affluent

2

: characterized by abundance : ample

wealthily

ˈwel-thə-lē 

adverb

wealthiness

ˈwel-thē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• affluent
• deep-pocketed
• fat
• fat-cat
• flush
• loaded
• moneyed
• monied
• opulent
• rich
• silk-stocking
• well-endowed
• well-fixed
• well-heeled
• well-off
• well-to-do

Choose the Right Synonym for wealthy

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 wealthy in a Sentence

He is a wealthy entrepreneur.

the wealthiest nations in the world

Recent Examples on the Web

Hsu played Shan Cai, a teenager from a middle-class family who attends an elite private school and becomes caught in a love web with the heirs of wealthy families. —Sara Merican, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2025

Gates himself was the world’s wealthiest person, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $58 billion. —Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 3 Feb. 2025

For much of the war, students in college or graduate school were exempt from service, a policy that generally favored whiter and wealthier draftees. —Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025

Pearce plays wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren while Joe Alwyn costars as Harrison's son, with Felicity Jones as László's wife. —Jen Juneau, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wealthy

• the wealthy

Kids Definition

wealthy

adjective

ˈwel-thē 

wealthier; wealthiest

1

: having wealth : rich

2

: marked by plenty : abundant

wealthiness

-thē-nəs 

noun