wealthy

adjective

ˈwel-thē How to pronounce wealthy (audio)
 also  ˈwelt-thē
wealthier; wealthiest
1
: having wealth : very affluent
2
: characterized by abundance : ample
wealthily adverb
wealthiness noun
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 But before that happens, both the incumbent and Democratic favorite are going to have to get through primaries with wealthy opponents who are already taking shots. Max Greenwood, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2024 These communities have typically seen little infrastructure investment due to that lack of resources, making the recovery process slower and more drastic than experienced by wealthier communities, Cuttino said. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2024 Grab only serves Southeast Asian markets, all with different levels of per capita income, ranging from wealthy Singapore to relatively poorer Cambodia. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 27 Apr. 2024 Related Content America's wealthiest are dodging $150 billion in taxes each year, according to the IRS Commissioner Your taxes are standing between the US and economic doom Are self-driving cars safe enough yet? William Gavin, Quartz, 26 Apr. 2024 Their wealthy host and owner of the lavish castle met his sudden fate by the blade of a fencing foil. Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024 Birth rates in countries around the world have been declining, mainly in wealthier nations, as economic instability and uncertainty over events like the pandemic discourage people from having children. Jessica Nix / Bloomberg, TIME, 25 Apr. 2024 In general, Latino neighborhoods in Phoenix are known to be hotter, more polluted and lacking in shade compared to whiter, wealthier areas in the valley. The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2024 The philanthropy is tied to Adam Milstein, a wealthy real estate investor who is the co-founder of the Israeli American Council, a prominent Jewish advocacy group. Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wealthy was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near wealthy

Cite this Entry

“Wealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wealthy. Accessed 1 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

wealthy

adjective
wealthier; wealthiest
1
: having wealth : rich
2
: marked by plenty : abundant
wealthiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on wealthy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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