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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

seldom

2 of 2

adjective

as in unusual

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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
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 In the past, mental health and the lingering effects of trauma were seldom discussed among members of the department. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026 Starting in 1973, when Landry hired him to be his wide receivers coach, Ditka started a pathway to a level of fame players and coaches seldom achieve. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 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
  • These sounds are strange bedfellows, but the delirium rarely feels indulgent or trivial.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Hitler rarely used the Kehlsteinhaus — unlike the Berghof residence, also in the Berchtesgaden area, the ruins of which were demolished in 1952.
    — Geir Moulson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of rarely
Adjective
  • And now Great Question will, hopefully CBS News thinks, bring that voice to new places, in a digital expansion that is unusual for an evening news anchor.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But the book walks the reader through Raichlen’s unusual path to becoming a food writer obsessed with the art of barbecuing.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • Coalition governments are not uncommon in the state, where politicians are fond of saying that pragmatism trumps partisanship.
    — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Single digits—and even colder conditions, especially at elevation on Jackson Hole Mountain—are not uncommon.
    — Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • Spider Plant Another hard-to-kill houseplant is the ubiquitous spider plant, which can handle both low light and infrequent watering thanks to its fleshy white roots that store water.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But these infrequent episodes ultimately didn’t sway my stance.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of infrequent
Adjective
  • Voting by noncitizens and fraud involving mail ballots are both rare.
    — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Back in 2023, Stevens revealed he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome—a rare auto-immune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves—and was working to relearn how to walk and use his hands.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of rare
Adjective
  • Some of the rooms are off-limits, but visitors will get to see Duke's extraordinary collection of Islamic art.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Portland decision — based in part on data the Department of Justice later admitted was false — prompted an extraordinary filing by Judge Jay Bybee, who all but pleaded with the court to rehear the case and interpret the law differently.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • When a manageable investment can bring a decent return, producers can risk something unfamiliar, and audiences can afford to try it.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Shimizu notes that everyone carries a different idea of what cinema is, and that films made with a theater in mind are becoming unfamiliar to many.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfamiliar

Browse Nearby Words

seizures
seldom
select
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Cite this Entry

“Seldom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seldom. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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