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.
That young Israelis are drifting right is in many ways a reflection of how Israeli society differs from other wealthy democracies. — Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026 The sentences cap a stunning downfall for the brothers, particularly Tal and Oren, who rose to prominence as luxury real estate brokers handling multimillion-dollar properties and catering to wealthy clients. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026 The sale is just more evidence that dinosaurs have become serious trophy objects for wealthy collectors, joining blue-chip paintings, rare watches, and sports memorabilia at the top end of the luxury market. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 Oct. 2026 Prebisch put forward a theory of economic development that argued that the global economy must be understood as a single, integrated system, in which wealthier and poorer countries were viewed in relation to one another. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 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
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