“Rich” does the job — but the right alternative does more. Here are 6 curated replacements, each with a definition, pronunciation, and an example of it working on the page.
Having an abundance of wealth and material comfort.
“The affluent neighborhood gleamed with manicured lawns and imported stone driveways.”
Best for: Works well in journalism, social commentary, or neutral formal writing.
Ostentatiously wealthy, marked by lavish display and sumptuous excess.
“The opulent ballroom dripped with chandeliers and gold-leafed cornices.”
Best for: Best for describing places, lifestyles, or aesthetics with visible grandeur.
Belonging to or characteristic of a class with inherited or established wealth.
“The moneyed families of the valley had financed the cathedral three centuries prior.”
Best for: Punchy and slightly cynical; great for fiction or cultural criticism.
Of or relating to governance or status derived from extreme wealth.
“The city's plutocratic elite dined above the clouds while the streets flooded below.”
Best for: Strong political or satirical tone; signals systemic critique.
Fabulously wealthy, alluding to the legendarily rich Lydian king Croesus.
“He retired at forty, Croesus-rich and utterly bored.”
Best for: Rare classical allusion; striking in essays or literary fiction for erudite readers.
Resembling a nabob — one who flaunts enormous, often newly acquired fortune.
“His nabobish spending habits scandalized even the most indulgent members of the club.”
Best for: Archaic and delightfully obscure; ideal for historical fiction or comic prose.
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