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

Roberts fielded plenty of questions about items that had rarely seemed urgent before. — Angela Haupt, Time, 10 Aug. 2026

But, because the vast majority of our planet is covered in water and non-arid land, they are rarely observed by human eyes. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

The American dream has rarely looked dreamy in a James Gray movie. — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2026

Americans rarely agree on much, but there is sudden, shared anger about data centers. — Jason Bailey, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2026