RARE Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'rare' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of rare are choice , dainty , delicate , elegant , and exquisite . While all these words mean "having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste," rare suggests an uncommon excellence. // rare beauty

Q: In what contexts can 'choice' take the place of 'rare'?

In some situations, the words choice and rare are roughly equivalent. However, choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind. // choice fabric

Q: When is it sensible to use 'dainty' instead of 'rare'?

The meanings of dainty and rare largely overlap; however, dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate. // dainty sandwiches

Q: When could 'delicate' be used to replace 'rare'?

Although the words delicate and rare have much in common, delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility. // delicate craftsmanship

Q: When can 'elegant' be used instead of 'rare'?

The words elegant and rare can be used in similar contexts, but elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste. // a sumptuous but elegant dining room

Q: When might 'exquisite' be a better fit than 'rare'?

The words exquisite and rare are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste. // an exquisite gold bracelet

rare

adjective

ˈrer

Definition of rare

as in unusual

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in exquisite

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in occasional

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in uncommon

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 & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rare different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of rare are choice, dainty, delicate, elegant, and exquisite. While all these words mean "having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste," rare suggests an uncommon excellence.

rare beauty

In what contexts can choice take the place of rare?

In some situations, the words choice and rare are roughly equivalent. However, choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.

choice fabric

When is it sensible to use dainty instead of rare?

The meanings of dainty and rare largely overlap; however, dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.

dainty sandwiches

When could delicate be used to replace rare?

Although the words delicate and rare have much in common, delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.

delicate craftsmanship

When can elegant be used instead of rare?

The words elegant and rare can be used in similar contexts, but elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.

a sumptuous but elegant dining room

When might exquisite be a better fit than rare?

The words exquisite and rare are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.

an exquisite gold bracelet

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 rare Menopause has proven to be a rare bipartisan area of consensus on women’s health. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026 For many community members, this was a rare opportunity to engage with a scientist. — Caroline Montojo, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026 In a rare sighting, a whale shark was spotted between Malibu and Santa Barbara Island. — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Yet previous audits have found instances of noncitizen voting to be very rare. — Benjamin Swasey, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rare

Adjective

If a machine encounters something unusual or gets stuck, someone monitoring the fleet can briefly intervene until the autonomous system is ready to take back over.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
The changes occurred amid an unusual rollout of the blog post.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of unusual

Adjective

An outpost of the Milanese hotspot, the Italian eatery offers fine dining in exquisite surroundings.

— Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
In Barbara Forever, an exquisite new documentary by Brydie O’Connor, there’s even old, grainy footage of Hammer essentially saying as much before a screening of her films.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of exquisite

Adjective

Church bells, owl hoots and sprinklers keeping the grass hydrated during this dry spell fill the space between the occasional motor trudging along a main road devoid of commotion.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Alongside producing glassware and private commissions, the studio hosts occasional workshops in glass engraving and open houses.

— Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of occasional

Adjective

Lucas says shootings involving immigration officers are not uncommon, and under this administration alone, there have been more than 20.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
Pooling of sea water is possible around high tide at beach areas that is uncommon with normal tidal ranges.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of uncommon

Adjective

South Florida motorists routinely saw police officers hurtling along highways at extraordinary speeds without lights, sirens or any apparent emergency.

— Sally Kestin, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Barcelona are still extraordinary — and remain a reminder that there are no quick fixes.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of extraordinary

Adjective

The menu is helmed by Tyler Heckman, a Connecticut native who cut his teeth in New York, and is elegant and thoughtfully sourced but approachable.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Related Articles All over the bodice, but most certainly the skirt of the dress, flouncy, delicate feathers were featured in abundance, giving the overall design a distinctly textural and playful feel that was still refined and elegant.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of elegant

Adjective

On paper, the script didn’t seem that funny, and the looseness of it all — the clowning, the lack of a traditional plot structure — seemed kind of slapdash.

— Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
The play touches on issues of male bonding, family, reentering the dating pool, loss, grief and despair, while being very funny almost all the time.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of funny

Adjective

Engineered around Qualcomm’s flagship 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor, this Surface laptop delivers exceptional processing speed with whisper-quiet thermal efficiency.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
That golden brown exterior tasted exceptional, but eating it came with some hurdles.

— Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of exceptional

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“Rare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rare. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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