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rich people
wealthy people
super-wealthy people
high-income people
lucky people
elite people
rich foods
fat foods
dense foods
heavy foods
high-calorie foods
high-nutrient foods
rich variety
diverse variety
great variety
extensive variety
amazing variety
wide variety
rich history
vibrant history
immense history
strong history
proud history
extensive history
rich land
lush land

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rich distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of rich are affluent, opulent, and wealthy. While all these words 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

When would affluent be a good substitute for rich?

The words affluent and rich can be used in similar contexts, but affluent suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth.

an affluent society

When might opulent be a better fit than rich?

The words opulent and rich are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, opulent suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth, more often applying to things than people.

an opulent mansion

When can wealthy be used instead of rich?

The meanings of wealthy and rich largely overlap; however, wealthy stresses the possession of property and intrinsically valuable things.

wealthy landowners

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 rich Villa’s inclusion in the Deloitte Football Money League’s top 20 richest teams was caveated by qualifying for this season’s Champions League, with the broadcast revenue received a critical and telling contributor. Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025 According to the 14th congressional district representative, she’s met wealthy people who are a lot more impressive than the world’s richest man. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025 That's projector-like real estate in a screen that provides rich black levels, burstingly bright quantum dot colors, and impressive overall punch. Ryan Waniata, WIRED, 5 Feb. 2025 So, yeah, the landscape, the backdrop is much richer in Season 2. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 5 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for rich 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rich
Adjective
  • Jacob Elordi plays Dorrigo Evans’ younger self, stumbling into an engagement with a girlfriend from a wealthy family (Olivia DeJonge) while falling in love with his uncle’s wife Amy (Odessa Young), a bohemian youngster who has clearly done some regrettable matrimonial stumbling herself.
    Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2025
  • But then the Birds sold 8% of their operation to two wealthy families in deals that valued the club at $8.1 billion and $8.3 billion, respectively.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • However, the team was surprised to see that a fatty metabolite called squalene was missing.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2025
  • According to Mayo Clinic, signs include weight gain in the face, a fatty hump between a person's shoulders, a rounded face, pink or purple stretch marks on the skin, acne, slow wound healing and thin, frail skin that bruises easily.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Engaging with patient safety expertise will be crucial in creating a robust regulatory environment that balances the drive for innovation with the necessity of safeguarding patient health.
    Rob El Kareh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
  • The diesel option provides a robust 277 horsepower through a Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel engine.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Carver, a Black agricultural scientist and inventor, was extremely concerned with keeping soil and its nutrients rich and fertile.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2025
  • For Kentridge, attachment to a great idea can lead to entrapment, closing your mind to other, unthought-of fertile ideas.
    Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • With its affluent Newport Beach backdrop, emotional needle drops, and witty banter — part Dawson’s Creek, part Gilmore Girls — creator Josh Schwartz’s hit brought an edgier flavor to the genre.
    Sezin Devi Koehler, EW.com, 8 Feb. 2025
  • Schools, charities and social enterprises are also flourishing, fueled by generous donations from these affluent newcomers.
    Kevin Lim, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Best of all, using an air fryer results in shrimp that are light and crunchy, without being greasy.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The greasier the better, Chen says (but people with sensitive skin should avoid olive oil, which can be irritating).
    Matt Fuchs, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Shakespeare spilled some of his most potent ink over the question, and while Tucker, Matthews, and their ensemble touch that potency, there remains in their Henry IV a Falstaffian portion of fierce, funny, multifaceted life still waiting to be tapped.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2025
  • But given how potent this flu season has already proved to be, officials say those who have yet to be vaccinated should consider doing so.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Yes, but: Kaye was the group's bass guitarist who went on to have the most prolific career of any member, yet was somehow left out.
    Troy Smith, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Yuki Aditya was part of the Tiger Competition’s jury, while prolific filmmaker Kamila Andini — behind Yuni, Before, Now & Then and Netflix tentpole series Cigarette Girl — brought her latest project, Four Seasons in Java, to IFFR’s Cinemart.
    Sara Merican, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near rich

Cite this Entry

“Rich.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rich. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

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