rare

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adjective

Definition of RARE

1

being out of the ordinary <even among the prize-winning roses, this one is a rare beauty>

Synonyms aberrant, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding, extraordinaire, extraordinary, freak, odd, peculiar, phenomenal, preternatural, rare, singular, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted

Related Words conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, salient, striking; bizarre, deviant, eccentric, freakish, monstrous, oddball, outlandish, quaint, strange, weird; incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unimaginable, unthinkable

Near Antonyms everyday, familiar, frequent

Antonyms common, customary, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unextraordinary, usual

2

having qualities that appeal to a refined taste <rare specialty wools, such as cashmere, prized for their fineness, lightness and exceptional warmth>

Synonyms dainty, delicate, elegant, exquisite, fine, rare, recherché, select

Related Words bijou, jewellike; better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special; elite, exclusive; classic, excellent, fabulous, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous (or marvellous), noble, outstanding, par excellence, premium, prime, sensational, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, transcendant, unsurpassed, wonderful; ultrarare

Near Antonyms coarse, gross, kitsch, kitschy, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, tasteless, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar; commercial, mass-produced, popular; common, ordinary; average, lesser, mediocre, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine (or run-of-mine), second-class, second-rate; deficient, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting

3

not often occurring or repeated <the French pronunciation of the family's name is rare, except in Louisiana>

Synonyms isolated, occasional, odd, rare, sporadic

Related Words scarce, scattered, uncommon, unique, unusual; choppy, discontinuous, erratic, fitful, intermittent, irregular, spasmodic, spotty, unsteady

Near Antonyms daily, regular; common, ordinary, routine

Antonyms frequent

4

noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <“Such good manners are rare these days,” remarked Mrs. Denby, as the young man let her go ahead of him in line>

Synonyms curious, extraordinary, funny, odd, offbeat, out-of-the-way, peculiar, queer, rare, singular, strange, unaccustomed, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, weird

Related Words bizarre, eccentric, far-out, kooky (also kookie), oddball, outlandish, outré, way-out; aberrant, abnormal, atypical, exceptional, irregular; newsworthy, notable, noteworthy, noticeable, particular, remarkable, special

Near Antonyms unexceptional; expected, predictable; familiar, normal, regular, typical

Antonyms common, ordinary, plain, usual