wealthy

adjective

ˈwel-thē How to pronounce wealthy (audio)
also ˈwelt-thē
wealthier; wealthiest
Synonyms of wealthynext
1
: having wealth : very affluent
2
: characterized by abundance : ample
wealthily
ˈwel-thə-lē How to pronounce wealthy (audio)
adverb
wealthiness
ˈwel-thē-nəs How to pronounce wealthy (audio)
noun

Synonyms of wealthy

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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
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.
Some wealthy suburbs were too small for the MoneyLion ranking. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 4 July 2026 Swift’s name came up as a possible wealthy benefactor to pay for a new football stadium in Kansas City. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026 Who wouldn’t want a glimpse into the world of uber-wealthy teens living very adult lives—sans parental supervision—in the heart of New York City? — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 3 July 2026 Visiting teams, particularly from wealthy nations with the means to pay for it, will also request the most secluded rooms in the hotel, and away from the street side to minimize noise exposure. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wealthy

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

Phrases Containing wealthy

Rhymes for wealthy

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Browse Nearby Words

wealthless
wealthy
wean
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Cite this Entry

“Wealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wealthy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wealthy

adjective
ˈwel-thē How to pronounce wealthy (audio)
wealthier; wealthiest
1
: having wealth : rich
2
: marked by plenty : abundant
wealthiness
-thē-nəs How to pronounce wealthy (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on wealthy

Nglish: Translation of wealthy for Spanish Speakers

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