rarely

adverb

ˈrer-lē How to pronounce rarely (audio)
Definition of rarelynext
as in seldom
not often summer thunderstorms occur only rarely along the Oregon coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 rarely At a time when the fourth wall between fan and wrestler had long collapsed, Satterley rarely broke character. — Rudy Chinchilla, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026 In my work with companies in aerospace, healthcare and manufacturing, AI projects rarely stall because the model is weak. — Jacqueline Destefano-Tangorra, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The pattern bucks what scientists see elsewhere in the animal kingdom and helps explain why Great Danes rarely outlive golden retrievers or pugs. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 But the Netflix series, though often immensely dramatic, rarely puts its characters in places that reflect them intimately. — Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rarely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rarely
seldom
Adverb
  • Since the first Palestinian intifada, or uprising, began in 1987, human rights organizations have documented how seldom investigations into Israeli soldiers’ killings of Palestinians resulted in prosecution.
    — Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Scholars of her work have debated why women seldom take center stage.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of seldom

Browse Nearby Words

rarefied
rarely
rareness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rarely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rarely. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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