seldom 1 of 2

adverb

ˈsel-dəm How to pronounce seldom (audio)
Definition of seldomnext
as in rarely
not often we seldom go to the theater downtown because its prices are so high

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

seldom

2 of 2

adjective

as in unusual

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of seldom
Adverb
For the Dodgers, the worst tickets seldom fall to market rate, because the team would rather live with a few empty seats rather than condition fans to hold out for a lower price. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026 His two sons attended New York public schools, but Spade says their formal observance of the attacks seldom extended beyond a moment of silence. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026 Prince William attended as a representative of his father, King Charles, in keeping with a long-standing tradition that the British sovereign seldom attends the funerals of other heads of state. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026 There’s seldom a season when a play by Ken Ludwig, one of the most popular living American playwrights, can’t be found on a Connecticut stage. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for seldom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seldom
  1. rarely
  2. unusual
  3. uncommon
  4. infrequent
  5. rare
  6. extraordinary
  7. unfamiliar
Adverb
  • Each episode follows one garden over an extended period, capturing animal behavior rarely witnessed by human eyes – from raising families and defending territories to hunting, courting and surviving the changing seasons.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Yet even as built, the stadium rarely reached capacity, a challenge eventually compounded by the foundering product on the gridiron.
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of rarely
Adjective
  • The team now points to interactions between manganese and ytterbium as a possible source of the unusual Hall response.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The unusual diplomatic rebuke underscored the mistrust between the two countries.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • This way of thinking is not uncommon, and it’s not limited to film criticism.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Police noted that mountain lions are not uncommon near the Stanislaus River and other rural pockets around Oakdale but urged residents to stay alert – especially overnight and around dawn and dusk.
    — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • Diverse characters made infrequent appearances, their storylines often tied to hardship rather than joy.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Clearing the uncertainty Neutron capture reactions are difficult to measure directly because recreating stellar conditions in the laboratory is hard; the reactions are infrequent, and the nuclei involved are short-lived.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of infrequent
Adjective
  • Children—a rare sight at Trancoso’s small, intimate pousadas but welcome here—are kept busy by a discreet army of private nannies and hotel monitors.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Because Justice Samuel Alito recused himself from the case, an eight-person bench will decide the case for the Supreme Court, leaving open the possibility of a rare 4-4 deadlock.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of rare
Adjective
  • This keeps the performance informal and keeps the narrative — a staggering odyssey of injustices, abuses, travel adventures, extraordinary coincidences, losses, reunions, reflections and self-analysis — from becoming sensationalized.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Guadagnino speaks in calligraphy; adjectives almost certainly accompany a proper name — the extraordinary, the wonderful, the genius.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, many investors of all sorts who are unfamiliar with crypto find buying HYPE tokens can be cumbersome, typically requiring them to create a crypto wallet and connect it to a decentralized exchange.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • As levels drop, the body becomes less efficient at cooling itself, triggering more frequent hot flashes and sweating that mixes with skin bacteria to produce stronger or unfamiliar smells.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfamiliar

Browse Nearby Words

seizures
seldom
select
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Cite this Entry

“Seldom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seldom. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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