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

Infections, other immune-system stressors and, more rarely, brain injuries may also contribute in genetically susceptible individuals. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Even so, there’s rarely a backup of more than one hole, which is a credit to the course design and its wide selection of distances off the tee. — Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 7 July 2026

It is rarely given authority over the project decisions that produce them. — Joel Carboni, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026