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
Example Sentences
Her investments have made her rich. The dictionary is a rich source of information. a rich and spicy soup The food was a little too rich for me. Their country has a rich cultural heritage. This area has a rich history. She has a rich vocabulary. See More
Recent Examples on the WebNutrient-rich foods have also been found to boost brain health.Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 In mineral-rich Mali, where Wagner is propping up the government, the firm is negotiating with the regime over concessions for two gold mines. Elisabeth Braw, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 None of that has stopped the tradition-rich Hornets from establishing themselves as one of the best teams in Central Florida this year. Buddy Collings, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 This compact hydroponic garden (which comes with six herb seed packets) supplies a nutrient-rich solution directly to a plant’s roots, which will save your recipient from the hassle and mess of growing indoors with soil. Corinne Sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 7 Sep. 2022 Fortunately, the tribe is still very active within the park: members lead tours and host info-rich presentations. Katie Jackson, Outside Online, 6 Sep. 2022 Copper also exists elsewhere in Alaska, including in the mineral-rich Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska, geologists say. Alex Demarban, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Sep. 2022 The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment -- better known as MOXIE -- has been successfully making oxygen from Mars' carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere as part of NASA's Perseverance rover mission. Ashley Strickland And Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022 Not all cholesterol-rich foods are automatically bad for you. Jacob Livesay, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English riche, from Old English rīce; akin to Old High German rīhhi rich, Old English rīce kingdom, Old High German rīhhi, noun; all from prehistoric Germanic words borrowed from Celtic words akin to Old Irish rí (genitive ríg) king — more at royal
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of rich was before the 12th century