19 Other Ways to Say SELDOM | Seldom Synonyms (Examples)

Talking about things that don't happen very often can make your writing more interesting. Instead of always saying ‘seldom’, there are many other words you can use, like ‘rarely’, ‘occasionally’, or ‘hardly ever’. In this article, we will explore 19 synonyms for seldom, how to use them, and give examples to help you understand each one.

19 Different Ways to Say SELDOM: Another Word for SELDOM

Rarely

‘Rarely’ is a common synonym for seldom and is great when you want to show something happens very few times. It works in both spoken and written situations. You can use it to describe events, habits, or feelings that do not occur often. The word feels natural and is easy to place in sentences without sounding strange. It is especially useful when emphasizing frequency in a casual conversation or story. Using ‘rarely’ can make your writing sound more varied and lively compared to always saying seldom.

She rarely eats fast food.
I rarely go to the movies.
He rarely talks about his past.

Also Read: 19 Other Ways to Say MEANINGFUL | Meaningful Synonyms (Examples)

Infrequently

‘Infrequently’ shows something happens at long intervals and is useful when the timing between events matters. It is slightly more formal than seldom but still understandable in everyday use. You can use it for describing appointments, meetings, or any events that do not happen often. The word emphasizes the gap between occurrences and gives readers a sense of how uncommon something is. ‘Infrequently’ works well in explanations, storytelling, or sharing observations.

We infrequently visit that park.
The teacher infrequently gives homework on Fridays.
She infrequently calls her relatives.

Occasionally

‘Occasionally’ means something happens now and then, but not too often. It is friendly for everyday writing and speech. You can use it to describe small habits, activities, or events. It carries a light and flexible feeling, making it perfect for casual stories or conversations. ‘Occasionally’ is helpful when you want to show something is not completely regular but still happens sometimes. It adds variety and avoids repeating seldom too much.

I occasionally drink coffee in the afternoon.
He occasionally joins us for dinner.
They occasionally travel abroad.

Hardly Ever

‘Hardly ever’ is a strong phrase to show something almost never happens. It is very expressive and easy to use in informal writing. You can use it to talk about habits, actions, or experiences that are extremely rare. This phrase gives emphasis on rarity more than just seldom. It is often used in conversation or storytelling to stress a point clearly. ‘Hardly ever’ works best when you want to exaggerate for effect.

I hardly ever watch TV.
She hardly ever goes shopping.
They hardly ever arrive on time.

Scarcely

‘Scarcely’ is useful when something happens almost not at all. It has a slightly old-fashioned or formal tone but still fits in modern writing when you want a serious effect. It emphasizes the minimal occurrence of an event or action. You can use it in descriptions of moments, opportunities, or chances that are very limited. ‘Scarcely’ is perfect for highlighting rarity in a more thoughtful or dramatic way.

He scarcely smiled during the ceremony.
There was scarcely any food left.
She scarcely remembered the meeting.

Barely

‘Barely’ shows something almost does not happen or just happens with difficulty. It is very strong for describing minimal occurrence. You can use it for time, success, or moments that just pass. ‘Barely’ adds a sense of urgency or smallness to the action. It can also give your writing energy when highlighting scarcity or effort. Using it instead of seldom gives a sharper feeling of rarity.

He barely slept last night.
The plant barely survived the winter.
She barely made it to class.

Sporadically

‘Sporadically’ is ideal for events that occur at irregular times or in scattered instances. It is slightly formal but still readable in casual writing. You can use it for meetings, work, or activities that appear here and there. The word emphasizes randomness and unpredictability. ‘Sporadically’ is great when you want to show something is not regular and cannot be planned. It adds interest to your sentences by describing scattered actions.

He exercises sporadically during the week.
Emails arrive sporadically in the inbox.
They travel sporadically on holidays.

Irregularly

‘Irregularly’ works well for patterns or events that do not follow a schedule. It is slightly formal but very descriptive. You can use it for habits, shifts, or routines that change often. The word stresses inconsistency and unpredictability. ‘Irregularly’ is useful when showing something is not constant and lacks a fixed rhythm. It gives clarity in telling how uncommon or random certain actions are.

Classes are held irregularly this semester.
He checks the news irregularly.
I meet friends irregularly.

At Times

‘At times’ is a friendly phrase meaning sometimes. It works well for stories, personal experiences, and casual writing. You can use it to show events happen occasionally without specifying exact frequency. It is easy to insert into sentences naturally. ‘At times’ gives a reflective or thoughtful tone to writing. It works best when you want to soften the rarity and make the sentence more relatable.

At times, she feels lonely.
He gets distracted at times.
At times, I enjoy being alone.

From Time to Time

‘From time to time’ is a phrase showing something happens occasionally. It is slightly longer but feels very natural in conversation. You can use it for habits, meetings, or small events. The phrase makes sentences sound friendly and descriptive. ‘From time to time’ is useful when you want to indicate frequency without being too strict. It gives a flexible feel to writing and talking.

I visit my grandparents from time to time.
He calls his friends from time to time.
We eat out from time to time.

Once in a While

‘Once in a while’ is a very common phrase showing something happens occasionally. It is perfect for casual writing and talking. You can use it for fun activities, outings, or small habits. It feels relaxed and relatable. ‘Once in a while’ works when you want to show rarity but keep a friendly tone. It helps vary sentences instead of repeating seldom.

I watch movies once in a while.
She goes hiking once in a while.
They play board games once in a while.

Every Now and Then

‘Every now and then’ means sometimes or occasionally. It has a conversational feel and works great in stories or friendly notes. You can use it for activities, feelings, or events that do not happen often. The phrase gives a gentle sense of timing and frequency. ‘Every now and then’ is perfect to show things happen sometimes without being exact. It keeps writing lively and relatable.

He visits the library every now and then.
I eat dessert every now and then.
They take walks every now and then.

Now and Then

‘Now and then’ is similar to ‘every now and then’ and is easy to use in daily writing. It shows something happens occasionally and not regularly. You can use it for fun, habits, or social events. The phrase gives a natural, flowing feel to your sentences. ‘Now and then’ is great for making writing sound light and readable. It is short and flexible for all types of contexts.

I call my cousin now and then.
He goes fishing now and then.
She tries new recipes now and then.

Not Often

‘Not often’ is a simple way to show rarity. It is very direct and easy to use in writing or speech. You can use it for actions, visits, or habits that happen seldom. The phrase clearly communicates low frequency. ‘Not often’ works when you want a clear, straightforward alternative. It makes sentences easy to understand while still varying from seldom.

I eat sweets not often.
He travels not often.
They attend parties not often.

Uncommonly

‘Uncommonly’ describes something that is rare or unusual. It can be used for habits, events, or characteristics that are not frequent. It gives a slightly descriptive or formal feel. You can use it when talking about unusual occasions or traits. ‘Uncommonly’ works when you want to highlight the special or rare nature of something. It adds a unique touch compared to standard words like seldom.

She uncommonly enjoys spicy food.
He uncommonly wakes up early.
The flowers bloom uncommonly late.

Unusually

‘Unusually’ shows something happens less often than expected or normal. You can use it for events, habits, or occurrences. It gives a sense of being out of the ordinary. The word is flexible for storytelling, observation, or describing experiences. ‘Unusually’ is good when you want to emphasize rarity while showing contrast. It makes your sentences more interesting and descriptive.

The weather is unusually cold today.
She is unusually quiet this morning.
He is unusually cheerful lately.

Hardly

‘Hardly’ is a strong word to show almost never. It is short and expressive. You can use it for habits, actions, or feelings that occur very rarely. ‘Hardly’ adds emphasis to the rarity of something. It works in both spoken and written sentences. This word is very useful when you want to make a simple, direct statement about how rare something is.

I hardly sleep during exams.
She hardly speaks in meetings.
He hardly eats junk food.

Almost Never

‘Almost never’ is very clear and shows extreme rarity. It works in casual and formal situations. You can use it to describe events, actions, or experiences that barely happen. The phrase gives a strong sense of uncommonness. ‘Almost never’ is perfect when you want your point about rarity to be very direct. It makes sentences easy to understand while emphasizing how rare something is.

I almost never drink soda.
She almost never visits the city.
They almost never play video games.

Once in a Blue Moon

‘Once in a blue moon’ is an idiom that shows something happens extremely rarely. It is fun and expressive, often used in speech and storytelling. You can use it for events, experiences, or surprises that are almost impossible to expect regularly. The phrase gives personality to writing and makes it memorable. ‘Once in a blue moon’ is perfect when you want to add charm while showing extreme rarity.

I go to the beach once in a blue moon.
He eats chocolate once in a blue moon.
We go on a road trip once in a blue moon.

Synonym	Meaning	Example
Rarely	Not happening often	She rarely eats fast food.
Infrequently	Occurring at long intervals	We infrequently visit that park.
Occasionally	Happening now and then	I occasionally drink coffee in the afternoon.
Hardly Ever	Almost never	I hardly ever watch TV.
Scarcely	Almost not at all	He scarcely smiled during the ceremony.
Barely	Just happening with difficulty	He barely slept last night.
Sporadically	Happening irregularly	He exercises sporadically during the week.
Irregularly	Not following a schedule	Classes are held irregularly this semester.
At Times	Sometimes	At times, she feels lonely.
From Time to Time	Occasionally	I visit my grandparents from time to time.
Once in a While	Occasionally	I watch movies once in a while.
Every Now and Then	Sometimes	He visits the library every now and then.
Now and Then	Occasionally	I call my cousin now and then.
Not Often	Not happening often	I eat sweets not often.
Uncommonly	Rarely	She uncommonly enjoys spicy food.
Unusually	Happening less than normal	The weather is unusually cold today.
Hardly	Almost never	I hardly sleep during exams.
Almost Never	Very rarely	I almost never drink soda.
Once in a Blue Moon	Extremely rarely	I go to the beach once in a blue moon.

Final Thoughts

Using different words instead of seldom makes writing more interesting and fun. Each synonym has its own vibe and shows rarity in its own way. Try them in sentences to express events that don't happen often and make your writing sound more varied and lively. Variety keeps readers engaged and sentences fresh.