seldom 1 of 2

adverb

ˈsel-dəm How to pronounce seldom (audio)
Definition of seldomnext
as in rarely
not often we seldom go to the theater downtown because its prices are so high

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

seldom

2 of 2

adjective

as in unusual

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 seldom
Adverb
The conversations on the House floor in January 2023 offer a view into the inner workings of and petty feuds in Congress that are seldom seen by the public. — Zak Hudak, CBS News, 19 June 2026 Even as their cultural footprint continues to grow, the Minions are seldom acknowledged as one of the more distinctive and enduring creations of 21st century cinema. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026 For the cover of the July 6 & 13, 2026, Body Issue, the cartoonist Edward Steed drew a foot, a body part that seldom gets our full attention. — Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 Why This Matters To An Investor Farmland earns its place in a portfolio by looking stable and uncorrelated, and a meaningful part of that look comes from how seldom and how gently it is valued. — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for seldom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seldom
  1. rarely
  2. unusual
  3. uncommon
  4. infrequent
  5. rare
  6. extraordinary
  7. unfamiliar
Adverb
  • Over three days in the downtown courtroom in June, a Times reporter observed how many immigrants were funneled into the courtroom in groups, and the judge rarely addressed them directly, typically calling up around five cases at a time.
    — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Some of these eye-popping rocks are so massive and expensive, they're rarely seen in public—but their owners serve up a rare glimpse now and then to remind the world that diamonds really are a girl’s best friend.
    — Freya Drohan, InStyle, 30 June 2026
Definition of rarely
Adjective
  • Although his adoption listing didn't mention his unusual paws, his foster mom did.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Indeed, that has led to the highly unusual situation of Australia not being the defending champions in either women’s World Cup, with India holding the 50-over title and New Zealand the T20 crown.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • An inconclusive ballistics result is not uncommon, as the analysis depends on the size and condition of the bullet fragments recovered.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • This trend reflects companies' need to expand and contract rapidly, prompting landlords to prebuild and furnish spaces, a practice uncommon just five years ago.
    — Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • As shown above, this was a clear method of attack against DR Congo, but became an infrequent sight as the game wore on.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • While pets don't require bathing as frequently as their human owners, infrequent baths can intensify that natural smell.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
Definition of infrequent
Adjective
  • Ireland Ireland offers a rare cross-generational appeal, where estate activities and rugged landscapes make for an ideal family itinerary.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Thieves stole $25,000 worth of rare Pokémon cards after breaking into an Eagan, Minnesota, claw machine arcade last weekend, employees said.
    — Jason Rantala, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of rare
Adjective
  • This year’s celebration comes on the heels of a late June warehouse fire in Boyle Heights that released extraordinary amounts of soot and smoke across the county, on par with pollution generated by the previous year’s wildfires.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • These were moments of extraordinary dissent against the British government by American colonists.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • Staff weathering the storm The Cubs are more than halfway through the season and playing around a 90-win pace, yet their clubhouse often looks like a scene out of spring training, with new names, unfamiliar faces, and players coming and going.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • Fredericson urges new ruckers to warm up before each session, hydrate well and tell someone the route when heading into unfamiliar areas.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Definition of unfamiliar

Browse Nearby Words

seizures
seldom
select
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seldom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seldom. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on seldom

Nglish: Translation of seldom for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All