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

In 2023, Bear 620’s mother Bear #910 blended her family with her sister Bear #909’s family in an event rarely observed amongst Brown Bears. — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2026

An unremarkable meal, or a conversation that fills 10 spare minutes rarely feels consequential on its own. — Justin Vaughn, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026

The challenge is that healthcare information rarely arrives as a clean narrative. — Arpan Saxena, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Those complications are how measles kills us, which means measles will rarely be on the top line of a certificate. — Jess Steier, STAT, 25 Sep. 2026