Synonyms of rare
17 similar words · 27 opposite words
Another word for rare is uncommon. Other synonyms of rare are scarce, scantling, non-common and infrequent. The opposite of rare is frequent.
Synonyms and similar words for rare
adjectiveVery uncommon; scarce.
adjectiveMore synonyms
- dearthyMarked by dearth; exhibiting scarcity, paucity, or lack.
- few and far betweenRare and scarce; hard to find.
- infrequentNot frequent; not happening frequently.
- in short supplyScarce, or difficult to find, or purchase.
- non-commonNot common (to several cases etc.); distinct.
- raresomeCharacterised or marked by rareness.
- scant
- scantlingNot plentiful; small; scanty.
- superrareExtremely rare.
- unfrequentNot frequent; not common; not happening often; infrequent.
- seldom archaicRare; infrequent.
Opposite of rare
adjectiveVery uncommon; scarce.
- commonOccurring or happening regularly or frequently; usual.
- frequentDone or occurring often; common.
- average
- basic
- bog-standardUtterly basic, ordinary, or standard; unremarkable, unexceptional, etc.
- common as bums Australia, USVery common or mundane (in various senses).
- common as dirtExtremely common.
- common as muck UKVery common (in various senses).
- common as pig tracksVery common or frequently encountered; not at all rare.
- dime a dozen Australia, US
- everyday
- general
- habitual
- nonrareNot rare.
- par for the courseNormal; common; to be expected. (Often connotes something undesirable).
- pedestrian
- plain
- quotidian
- regularHaving the expected characteristics or appearances; normal, ordinary, standard.
- routinaryInvolving, or pertaining to, routine; customary.
- routine
- ten a penny UK
- two a penny UKVery common; cheap.
- usualMost commonly occurring; typical.
- workaday
adjectiveParticularly of meat, especially beefsteak: cooked very lightly, so the meat is still red.
adjectiveMore antonyms
Meaning of rare
- adjective Very uncommon; scarce.
- adjective Small in number (but not unusual); infrequent; sparse.
- adjective Thin; of low density.
rare in other languages
Questions about synonyms of rare
- What is another word for rare?
- Rare has 17 synonyms on Word.ws, such as uncommon, scarce, scantling, non-common and infrequent.
- What is the opposite of rare?
- The opposite of rare is frequent. Other antonyms of rare are common, regular, nonrare, usual and general.
- What does rare mean?
- Rare means very uncommon; scarce.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: rare (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Cite this page: “Synonyms of rare.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/rare. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.