Synonyms of rarely

rarely

adverb

ˈrer-lē 

as in seldom

not often

summer thunderstorms occur only rarely along the Oregon coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seldom
• infrequently
• never
• sporadically
• occasionally
• once in a blue moon
• little
• sometimes
• irregularly
• now and then
• ne'er
• episodically

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• often
• frequently
• usually
• generally
• ordinarily
• oft
• routinely
• oftentimes
• always
• customarily
• habitually
• ever
• invariably
• constantly
• continually
• continuously
• forever
• endlessly
• perpetually
• repeatedly
• eternally
• chronically
• perennially
• unceasingly
• everlastingly
• evermore
• recurrently

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rarely

By many accounts, Glass is a friendly, obliging collaborator, and his music—fruitfully self-effacing, rarely complex enough to saturate or overwhelm the listener’s attention—behaves the same way. — Matthew Aucoin, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026

Vertical speeds during normal operations rarely exceed plus or minus 4,000 feet per minute, FlightRadar24 said. — Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026

Everyone here almost too respectfully gives one another their turn to speak, the conversation rarely fomenting into argument or overlapping chatter. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2026

Funny enough, while both of the rings are quite minimal, Queen Letizia of Spain’s engagement ring and wedding band are still rarely worn. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026