Definition

Noun: 1. Great wealth or luxuriousness: The state of having or displaying abundant riches, often characterized by expensive possessions, lavish lifestyles, and sumptuous surroundings. 2. Abundance, profusion: A rich or plentiful supply of something, often used figuratively.

Usage and Examples

• Describing wealth and luxury:
  • The opulence of the palace was breathtaking, with gold leaf on every surface.
  • They lived a life of opulence, traveling on private jets and wearing designer clothes.
• Describing a rich abundance (figurative):
  • The opulence of detail in the novel makes it a joy to read.
  • The garden was celebrated for the opulence of its summer blooms.

Advanced Usage

• "To live in opulence": To live in a state of great wealth and luxury.
  • After his invention succeeded, he retired to live in opulence.
• "Sheer/Vulgar opulence": Used to describe wealth that is considered excessive, overwhelming, or tastelessly showy.
  • The sheer opulence of the event made some guests uncomfortable.

Variants and Related Words

• Opulent (adjective): Characterized by or exhibiting great wealth or luxury; rich and sumptuous.
  • They stayed in an opulent suite at the hotel.
• Opulently (adverb): In a rich and luxurious manner.
  • The room was opulently decorated.

Synonyms

• Affluence: The state of having a great deal of money; wealth.
• Luxury: A state of great comfort or elegance, especially involving great expense.
• Wealth: An abundance of valuable possessions or money.
• Sumptuousness: The quality of being splendid and expensive-looking.

Antonyms

• Poverty: The state of being extremely poor.
• Austerity: Sternness or severity of manner or attitude; plainness and simplicity in appearance.
• Modesty: The quality of being relatively moderate, limited, or small in amount, rate, or level.

Idioms and Phrases

• "An opulence of choice": A phrase indicating a very large or rich selection of options.
  • The modern supermarket offers an opulence of choice that can be overwhelming.
• "To be a symbol of opulence": To represent or embody great wealth and luxury.
  • The diamond necklace was a symbol of opulence in the 1920s.

Noun

1. wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living