Synonyms for rare
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Uncommon — very uncommon; scarce
uncommon, unusual, infrequent, scarce, extraordinary, remarkable, odd, strange, unique, exceptional, singular, curious, out-of-the-way, peculiar, excellent, thin, unprecedented, fine, different, prodigious, incomparable, unparalleled, unparallelled UK
Definitions
- adj. 1
Very uncommon; scarce.
Black pearls are very rare and therefore very valuable.
Related words
Choose the right word
A particular fruit or coin may be rare; scarce applies to demand and use, and almost always to concrete things; to speak of virtue, genius, or heroism as scarce would be somewhat ludicrous.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- unusual The study by Meyer and his colleagues was unusual.
- uncommon A six-figure income isn't uncommon for physicians.
- scarce When goods are scarce, sellers have the advantage.
- infrequent Rain is an infrequent occurrence in this part of the country.
- precious It's said that nothing is more precious than time.
- exquisite This restaurant offers some really exquisite dishes.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| rare | steady | |
| unusual | steady | |
| uncommon | steady | |
| scarce | steady | |
| infrequent | falling | |
| precious | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- raw1, odd1
- 4 letters
- fine1, thin1, airy2
- 6 letters
- choice1, unique2, select2, scarce1, dainty2
- 7 letters
- strange1, unusual4, curious3, tenuous3
- 8 letters
- precious2, uncommon3, singular3, peculiar3, rarefied3
- 9 letters
- different3, excellent3, exquisite3, admirable4, underdone
- 10 letters
- remarkable4, infrequent3, prodigious3
- 11 letters
- exceptional4
- 12 letters
- unparalleled4, incomparable5
- 13 letters
- extraordinary6, unprecedented5, unparallelled
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (airy2 = 2 syllables).