uncommon

adjective

ˌən-ˈkä-mən How to pronounce uncommon (audio)
Definition of uncommonnext
1
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary a landscape of uncommon beauty

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rare
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced backyard swimming pools are not an uncommon sight in that neighborhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word uncommon distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of uncommon are infrequent, rare, scarce, and sporadic. While all these words mean "not common or abundant," uncommon suggests a frequency below normal expectation.

smallpox is now uncommon in many countries

When could infrequent be used to replace uncommon?

In some situations, the words infrequent and uncommon are roughly equivalent. However, infrequent implies occurrence at wide intervals in space or time.

infrequent family visits

When would rare be a good substitute for uncommon?

The words rare and uncommon are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rare suggests extreme scarcity or infrequency and often implies consequent high value.

rare first editions

When is it sensible to use scarce instead of uncommon?

While in some cases nearly identical to uncommon, scarce implies falling short of a standard or required abundance.

jobs were scarce during the Depression

In what contexts can sporadic take the place of uncommon?

The words sporadic and uncommon can be used in similar contexts, but sporadic implies occurrence in scattered instances or isolated outbursts.

sporadic cases of influenza

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 uncommon This communication challenge isn't uncommon among Indian executives, according to ghSMART's research. —Gabriel Snyder, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025 While enforcement against federal government lawyers has historically been uncommon, sustained documentation by court observers can provide the evidence needed for formal complaints. —Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 23 July 2025 Variations in the Earth's rotation are not uncommon: On July 9, for example, the Earth's quick spin shortened the day by nearly 1.4 milliseconds. —Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 22 July 2025 Colorado semi-truck accidents aren’t uncommon — in 2024, a federal agency reported 1,808 Colorado crashes involving large trucks. —Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for uncommon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncommon
  1. unusual
  2. rare
  3. extraordinary
  4. strange
  5. exceptional
  6. funny
  7. unique
  8. weird
Adjective
  • Summer storms cause travel headaches every year, but these numbers are not unusual.
    — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 26 July 2025
  • Their target area was unusual, though: a strip of lawn between the road and a fence bordering Interstate 65, where homeless people have set up about two dozen tents over the first half of this year.
    — Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 July 2025
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • What will replace the rare French glass HBO (Max) shattered with a random Friday-afternoon rock?
    — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025
  • These might include water retention, injection site irritation or, in rare cases, hormonal imbalances if the peptides are affecting growth hormone levels.
    — Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 1 Aug. 2025
Definition of rare
Adjective
  • The path to extraordinary results starts with recognizing what already comes naturally to you.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • While the star attractions, Hidden Dune and Star Dune, tower approximately 750 feet above the valley floor, one of the park’s extraordinary features is Medano Creek, a seasonal stream that emerges in spring and early summer.
    — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2025
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • That same day, the AI chatbot Grok, which is controlled by Musk’s xAI, kicked off its own strange Epstein tirade.
    — John Hyatt, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
  • His disjointed, dissonant rhythms were his attempt to accompany the chaos — like providing a real-time soundtrack to a strange silent movie.
    — David Kushner, Rolling Stone, 20 July 2025
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • Physicists are creating quantum computers with exceptional computing speeds, enabling a new kind of analytics and cryptography.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • The potato’s innovations, though, are still exceptional.
    — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 31 July 2025
Definition of exceptional
Adjective
  • When something bad happens, five seconds later, something funny in life happens.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 31 July 2025
  • Chuck Lorre is back with yet another laugh-out-loud funny show to add to his TV universe.
    — Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 31 July 2025
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • From a dive bar near Findlay Market to a 1930s architectural masterpiece, each is unique in its own way.
    — Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 31 July 2025
  • The Rabbit Hole has an elevated yet playful and whimsical approach to food and beverage and is complemented by the seasons and moods set inside of this unique bar.
    — Susan Stapleton, The Tennessean, 31 July 2025
Definition of unique
Adjective
  • Though country rock at their core, Roadhouse Band songs are flush with woodwinds and pedal steel, weird horns and synthesizers.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025
  • And that’s exactly the kind of weird the planet needs.
    — Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Definition of weird

Browse Nearby Words

uncommitted
uncommon
uncommonly
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Cite this Entry

“Uncommon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncommon. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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