exceedingly rare

USAGE SUMMARY

"exceedingly rare" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is extremely uncommon or unlikely. For example: "The white tiger is an exceedingly rare creature, with only a few hundred remaining in the wild."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Expulsion is exceedingly rare.

The New York Times

"And" is exceedingly rare.

The New York Times

English speakers were exceedingly rare.

The New Yorker

The disease is exceedingly rare.

The New York Times - Health

Stream runoff is exceedingly rare.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Such interactions are exceedingly rare.

University of California, Berkeley

Such requests are exceedingly rare.

The New York Times

Insanity acquittals are exceedingly rare.

The Guardian

Childhood abduction is exceedingly rare.

The Washington Post

Fatal elevator accidents are exceedingly rare.

The New York Times

Yet thankfully, such disasters are exceedingly rare.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "exceedingly rare", ensure that the context clearly establishes what makes the subject uncommon. Providing specific details or comparisons can strengthen the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "exceedingly rare" for events or occurrences that are merely uncommon or unusual. Reserve the phrase for situations that are truly exceptional and statistically improbable to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exceedingly rare" functions as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective "rare". It specifies the degree to which something is uncommon. This usage aligns with examples found in Ludwig, indicating a high degree of infrequency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exceedingly rare" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe something that is exceptionally uncommon. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively emphasizes the infrequency of a subject. Analysis of real-world examples reveals its frequent use in News & Media and Science, as well as Encyclopedias, indicating a neutral register applicable across various contexts. While synonyms such as "extraordinarily rare" and "exceptionally rare" offer subtle variations in tone, the core meaning remains consistent: something is not just rare, but remarkably so.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extraordinarily rare

Replaces "exceedingly" with "extraordinarily", offering a slightly more formal tone.

exceptionally rare

Substitutes "exceedingly" with "exceptionally", suggesting a deviation from the norm.

remarkably rare

Uses "remarkably" instead of "exceedingly", highlighting the surprising nature of the rarity.

unusually rare

Replaces "exceedingly" with "unusually", indicating that the rarity is out of the ordinary.

extremely uncommon

Changes the structure to "extremely" modifying "uncommon", keeping a similar intensity.

highly infrequent

Uses "highly" to modify "infrequent", focusing on the lack of frequency.

few and far between

An idiomatic expression meaning scarce or not frequent.

a rarity

Simplifies the phrase to emphasize the unique or special nature of something that is rare.

seldom seen

Focuses on the infrequency of observation.

scarce

A more concise synonym emphasizing limited availability or occurrence.

FAQs

How can I use "exceedingly rare" in a sentence?

Use "exceedingly rare" to describe something that occurs very infrequently or is hard to find. For example, "Instances of that particular bird species in this region are "exceedingly rare"".

What is a good synonym for "exceedingly rare"?

Synonyms for "exceedingly rare" include "exceptionally rare", "extraordinarily rare", or "highly unusual". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is "very exceedingly rare"?

While grammatically understandable, saying something is "very exceedingly rare" is redundant. The word "exceedingly" already implies a high degree of rarity. It's best to stick with just ""exceedingly rare"".

What makes something "exceedingly rare" versus just "rare"?

"Exceedingly rare" suggests a higher level of infrequency than simply "rare". Something that is ""exceedingly rare"" is not just uncommon; it's exceptional and very unlikely to occur.