adjective
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having or indicating wealth
-
abundant or plentiful
Other Word Forms
- opulence noun
- opulently adverb
- unopulent adjective
- unopulently adverb
Etymology
Origin of opulent
1595–1605; < Latin opulentus wealthy, equivalent to op- (stem of ops power, wealth) + -ulentus -ulent
Explanation
Opulent is a word that you will hear a lot around rich people looking to show off. "Remember the opulent buffet at Carrie’s sweet sixteen? Sixteen chocolate cakes iced in gold leaf!" If you want to remember that opulent is a word describing lavish displays of wealth, you can think of the word opal to help you remember it — opal being a rare gem. And if you are lucky enough to be able to afford opulence yourself, don’t describe it that way. The word contains connotations of pretentious. And gold leaf cake aside, who wants that?
Vocabulary lists containing opulent
100 Top "SAT" Words
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Grade 10, List 6
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tamba — Walking into Tamba, you’re immediately struck by the opulent decor and warm welcome from the host.
From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026
The opulent abode also comes complete with a theater room, sauna, party space, steam room, separate men’s and women’s lockers, a trampoline room with a 20-foot ceiling, offices, and outdoor sports courts.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026
The leaders met at the opulent Great Hall of the People, with Starmer telling Xi during their meeting that China is a "vital player on the global stage".
From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026
The project displayed an opulent excess that made little sense amid the stagnation in the rest of the Iranian economy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026
“The grown-ups are arriving,” she announced, watching parents stream in through the opulent gates and summon one kid after another from the pool.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
