uncommon
adjective
Synonyms
- aberrant
- aberrated
- abnormal
- anomalous
- atypical
- especial
- exceeding
- exceptional
- extraordinaire
- extraordinary
- freak
- odd
- peculiar
- phenomenal
- preternatural
- rare
- singular
- uncustomary
- unique
- unusual
- unwonted
Example Sentences
Juliette Rihl, The Arizona Republic, 17 Sep. 2022 This is not uncommon in economic development projects. Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 Water problems are not uncommon in the city due to its aging infrastructure that is in desperate need of upgrades. Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022 While retiring at 33 is uncommon in any part of the world, stopping young was always Joshua’s ultimate goal. Sophie Mellor, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2022 Most cobalt, for instance, is dug out in Congo, where child labor is not uncommon, specifically in mining. Bjorn Lomborg, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Charness is coauthor of recent research in the New England Journal of Medicine that suggests such rebounds are not uncommon and that patients who rebound can have high levels of virus capable of infecting others. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Passing The Acid Test As recently as the 1970s, LSD therapy was not an entirely uncommon practice. Ronit Molko, Forbes, 19 May 2022 The Cornell ibis escaped this treatment but was seemingly folded into its current form, with its head twisted back and its rib cage and sternum removed—an uncommon practice for the time. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 May 2022 See More Word History
circa 1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
uncommon
adjective
uncommon
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- unusual
- extraordinary
- exceptional
- rare
- unique
- abnormal
- odd
- outstanding
- remarkable
- singular
- atypical
- exceeding
- incredible
- anomalous
- peculiar
- noticeable
- phenomenal
- aberrant
- striking
- freak
- especial
- uncustomary
- notable
- unwonted
- prominent
- conspicuous
- salient
- strange
- bizarre
- preternatural
- eccentric
- extraordinaire
- aberrated
- inconceivable
- incomprehensible
- weird
- outlandish
- deviant
- unthinkable
- unimaginable
- oddball
- quaint
- freakish
- monstrous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- common
- typical
- ordinary
- normal
- customary
- usual
- unexceptional
- frequent
- familiar
- unextraordinary
- everyday
Synonyms & Similar Words
- unusual
- rare
- strange
- funny
- weird
- extraordinary
- peculiar
- odd
- unique
- curious
- bizarre
- special
- singular
- offbeat
- uncustomary
- abnormal
- remarkable
- unaccustomed
- exceptional
- eccentric
- atypical
- oddball
- noticeable
- out-of-the-way
- noteworthy
- outlandish
- queer
- outré
- notable
- particular
- newsworthy
- aberrant
- irregular
- far-out
- way-out
- kooky
- kookie
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- common
- ordinary
- usual
- plain
- normal
- typical
- unexceptional
- familiar
- regular
- predictable
- expected
Synonym Chooser
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.
In some situations, the words infrequent and uncommon are roughly equivalent. However, infrequent implies occurrence at wide intervals in space or time.
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.
While in some cases nearly identical to uncommon, scarce implies falling short of a standard or required abundance.
The words sporadic and uncommon can be used in similar contexts, but sporadic implies occurrence in scattered instances or isolated outbursts.