rarity

noun

ˈrer-ə-tē How to pronounce rarity (audio)
Definition of raritynext
1
as in exotic
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest an American visitor in that remote Chinese village is a rarity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in exception
something that is different from what is ordinary or expected a meal accompanied by wine is a rarity in this house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 rarity Office-ready dresses and smoothing bras are discounted and available in plenty of sizes, too — a rarity for Spanx sale items. — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 The exhibition comprises five new mixed-media paintings (a rarity for him) and eight new photographs. — Web Behrens, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 There’s really no word on the timelines of any five of these injuries, however; Turk Wharton’s absence was real enough to make the Panthers burn a draft pick on a defensive tackle depth piece, a rarity for this front office. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026 The rarity of the condition means diagnosis can be delayed, increasing the chances of severe symptoms. — CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rarity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rarity
  1. exotic
  2. exception
  3. curiosity
  4. anomaly
  5. wonder
  6. abnormality
  7. oddity
  8. marvel
Noun
  • There was clearly a market for exotics on a budget and sans passport.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike most six‑figure exotics that depreciate as predictably as the setting sun, the 911 has behaved like a blue‑chip asset, giving owners confidence that their purchase rested on unusually solid financial ground.
    — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of exotic
Noun
  • Wawrinka, helped by his phenomenal strength, is another exception.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Unconditional admissibility remains the exception, not the rule.
    — Brian O'Neill, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of exception
Noun
  • Once the blockbuster 1977 doc Pumping Iron turned him into an international curiosity, eminent photographers began lining up for their own piece of him.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
  • With tactile learning and a curiosity for the world around them, children can become nature experts through everyday play.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of curiosity
Noun
  • The trick is invoking it selectively, on an anomaly or scheduled review, not on every data point.
    — Devendra Rajput, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • And that’s a mile away from the Ferrari of 2025, one that found success to be the anomaly, not the norm.
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of anomaly
Noun
  • Grounded in tragedy and yet evoking a consistent sense of wonder, the lady of the house looks less like a mirror for her husband than a magnifying glass held over his genius and grotesquerie.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But most of all, wonder feels scarce because contemporary life has depleted the value of the moment.
    — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of wonder
Noun
  • Those with anatomic pulmonary abnormalities or neuromuscular disorders.
    — Anna Halkidis, Parents, 2 Sep. 2026
  • However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises against using tricyclic antidepressants during pregnancy due to the risk of major congenital abnormalities and other serious problems.
    — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of abnormality
Noun
  • Seeing a supermassive black hole up close is a spectacular, if unsettling, thought, but that’s not the only oddity to be seen from S301.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Here's why even more are ahead The moons range from planet-size Titan to smaller oddities, some of which are strangely shaped like potatoes or ravioli.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of oddity
Noun
  • Here, age-old traditions fuse with contemporary flavors, archaeological marvels meet modernist museums, rugged peaks are juxtaposed against verdant plains, and stretches of sandy shorelines lead to charming inland villages.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • In 1959, Disneyland debuted an attraction that was, at the time, a technical and fantastical marvel.
    — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of marvel

Browse Nearby Words

rarities
rarity
rascal
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Cite this Entry

“Rarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rarity. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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