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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 During a muggy Tuesday afternoon in early July, nearly a dozen blue-collar residents hoping to walk away a few bucks richer spent their lunch break playing the slots. Josh Salman, Miami Herald, 11 July 2025 The total fortune of France’s richest dropped 100 billion euros year-on-year, to 1.13 trillion euros, according to Challenges. Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 10 July 2025 These make the home a rich complement for the creations of the style’s champion, Victor Horta, whose works are visible at the nearby Horta Museum. New York Times, 10 July 2025 This rich cream also has panthenol and niacinamide for a smooth and bouncy complexion. Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rich
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rich
Adjective
  • Newport Mansions, Rhode Island Newport is heavily associated with the Gilded Age, as wealthy families owned summer retreats in this coastal community.
    Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • About 40 percent came from families too wealthy to have qualified previously.
    Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • There may even be science behind why milk goes so well with cookies—or any fatty, chocolatey dessert.
    Kelly Burch, Verywell Health, 28 July 2025
  • Myelin is a fatty substance that protects nerve cells, also known as neurons.
    Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • Ice is cheaper in states like Minnesota and Michigan, where the competition is robust and many rinks are community-owned and -run.
    Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Investment in robust e-commerce logistics infrastructure makes its online storefront the place to be as management works to aggressively decrease delivery times and reduce overall costs.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Their investments have triggered a wave of innovation and attracted intense enthusiasm from venture capital, creating fertile ground for rapid technological evolution.
    Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • By the time the Leo New Moon arrives on the 24th, the second half of the week becomes fertile ground for visioning and rebirth.
    Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • In France, a courtlier breed of tooth pullers began to cater to the affluent in the late seventeenth century.
    Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
  • Walk around the block in the colonial heartland of this affluent city-state and tourists are snapping away at famous 19th century hotel Raffles, while others make a beeline for the opulent Long Bar where the original Singapore Sling cocktail was concocted.
    Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • An effective cleanser takes away that slick, greasy feeling, but won’t leave your skin feeling stripped of moisture.
    Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 16 July 2025
  • But the fear of getting greasy yellow butter topping on Krypto’s white felt makes this, to me, less functional as a popcorn bucket.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Time and again, Garfield impresses with potent compositions, particularly in a scene that depicts father and daughter obliviously walking through a field in the foreground while, in the right-hand corner of the screen, a distant car slowly bears down upon them.
    Joe Leydon, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025
  • But an even more potent metaphor is on the horizon as Millie and Tim go for a hike near their new home and end up temporarily trapped in an underground cave.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 31 July 2025
Adjective
  • Nigeria’s superhero striker hit 26 goals in 32 league appearances, and his prolific form continued following a loan switch to Turkish giant Galatasaray in 2024.
    Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Their stand of 166 for the first wicket in the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford last week was their fifth of more than a hundred runs, and took them into the top 15 of Test cricket’s most prolific partnerships.
    Paul Newman, New York Times, 30 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rich.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rich. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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